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WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING
A heartbroken animal lover has been left with ‘unbearable guilt’ after the death of her cat, who accidentally got locked in the tumble dryer.
Georgina Warner, 45, was at home doing housework when she spotted the door of the tumble dryer had been left open, so closed it and switch the machine on.
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When she returned to the kitchen around five minutes later, she heard a ‘heavy clunking’ sound, at first putting it down to one of her children's toys.
However, when it dawned on her what the noise actually was, Warner rushed over the machine and opened the door, finding her eight-year-old white cat Gloria – completely lifeless – inside.
Warner said she frantically tried to give her pet CPR, but sadly she had already passed away.
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The mum-of-six from Rushton, Northamptonshire, said: “I was pottering around doing housework. I rushed through and noticed the dryer door was open so without thinking I slammed the door shut and turned it on.
"I went upstairs for five minutes, came down and sat at the table. I could hear heavy clunking but it didn't occur to me even then.
"That's why I felt so guilty because normally if you heard that you'd check instantly but I thought it would be one of the kid's toys.
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"It sounded heavy so my heart dropped and I checked. I still didn't expect to find the cat.
"I opened the door and felt relieved because I didn't see her. She was camouflaged against a white towel.
"As soon as I saw her my heart dropped. I pulled her out, she was still warm but she was clearly dead.
"It sounds really melodramatic but I tried CPR on her. I was panicking. I was breathing over her mouth and nose.
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"She was still so soft and warm so I thought maybe if I pumped her a little but she was absolutely gone.
The Asda worker said she instantly started questioning herself, asking ‘Why didn’t I check?’
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“I blamed myself completely,” she said. “It was me who turned it on.
"I get it was a really terrible accident but I can't help feeling it was my responsibility. There isn't one single day I don't think about it.
"My guilt is why did I shut that door? What made me not check that one time?
"I do regularly check the machines. It's a question of checking each and every time."
Gloria hadn’t climbed into the machine before, but Warner’s other cat Huxley had been known to do so, so it’s thought she may have copied him.
Warner – who has five cats – is now urging other pet owners to always check their machines before turning them on, saying she couldn’t bring herself to use the dryer or washing machine for two months after Gloria died.
She continued: "I do still get panicky about it. My heart races if I hear a slight noise in the machine.
"Gloria didn't get in the machines but Huxley used to when it was empty. I would take him out because I didn't like it.
"Gloria liked to get into plastic bags. It made it even stranger because I never would have thought for a second that she'd be in there but it's warm and I suppose she wanted to snuggle up in the clothes.
"I've had cats my whole life and it's never happened. I've always been very careful but it can be one time.
"They can get under car wheels, if you've got an animal you've got to check everywhere. It's like having children."
Jess Hardiman