When search-and-rescue pilot Chelsea Tugaw responded to a tragic call in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, she didn’t expect to bring back a survivor—let alone one with fur and whiskers. But amid the heartbreak, she discovered something incredible: a 12-year-old tabby cat named Mirage, still alive after a 380-foot fall that had claimed the lives of her owners.
This is the story of a cat who defied the odds—and the rescuer who gave her a second chance at life.
Found at the Bottom of a Tragedy
On April 29, Chelsea Tugaw was called to retrieve the bodies of 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, who had fallen from the edge of the park’s Inspiration Point overlook. The couple, who had been living out of a U-Haul and traveling across the Southwest, reportedly crossed a safety railing sometime during the night.
During the recovery mission, a rescue specialist was lowered down a sheer cliff face to retrieve what looked like a torn backpack near the victims. But as he reached it, he realized it wasn’t a bag at all—it was a soft-sided pet carrier. Inside, miraculously, was Mirage.
“I was amazed that she was still alive, to be honest,” Tugaw later said. “She was really quiet, which seemed unusual for a cat. She just seemed kind of out of it.”
The rescuers, stunned, hoisted the carrier to safety. What was meant to be a recovery mission turned into a rare moment of hope.
Injured, But Still Purring
Mirage was taken to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. At first, her injuries didn’t appear serious. “Externally, she looked okay,” a Best Friends staff member explained. “She had a couple of broken teeth and cracked ribs, but nothing that needed surgery—just cage rest and a lot of TLC.”
Despite the trauma, Mirage remained sweet and calm. She purred softly during her examinations, unfazed by the strangers trying to help her. “She’s a living miracle with a heart full of sweetness—still purring, still trusting,” the sanctuary shared.
But after a week in care, her condition worsened. She stopped eating and began to struggle with breathing. X-rays revealed her chest was filling with fluid—likely the result of internal injuries caused by the fall. Mirage was rushed to a specialty veterinary hospital in Las Vegas, where she was stabilized and treated for fluid around her heart.
“We wanted to be sure there wasn’t a leak that would require surgical intervention,” the vet team said. Fortunately, Mirage didn’t need surgery and soon returned to the sanctuary to complete her recovery.
A Rescuer Becomes a Lifelong Companion
While Mirage healed, Best Friends contacted the victims’ next of kin to ask if they could take her in. But when no one was able to adopt her, one name stood out—Chelsea Tugaw.
“I just kind of felt there was a special connection,” Tugaw said. “We rescued her, and I wanted to give her a good retirement home.”
Though Tugaw already had two cats, she couldn’t stop thinking about Mirage’s quiet strength and resilience. “When we found out she was an older kitty, I just wanted to make sure she was comfortable for the remainder of her years,” she added.
On May 19, Tugaw officially adopted Mirage, the cat she helped save from the depths of Bryce Canyon.
A Gentle Soul and a Symbol of Hope
Today, Mirage is thriving. She’s eating well, adjusting to her new surroundings, and spending her days curled up peacefully in Tugaw’s lap—safe at last.
“She’s been doing pretty good,” Tugaw said. “She’s settling right in.”
In a world where so many animals are forgotten in the shadows of human tragedy, Mirage’s story is a rare light. She is a survivor, a symbol of quiet strength, and a reminder of how powerful a second chance can be.
Thanks to the very pilot who lifted her out of danger, Mirage’s next chapter won’t be written alone.
