SINGAPORE - It was wet, slippery and the drain waters were rising but a kind-hearted foreign worker did not hesitate to swing into action to save a drowning cat.

In a video that has gone viral, the ginger cat was struggling to keep afloat in a drain that was full of murky water.

The unnamed worker climbed into the drain, then swung into a cavity to the side of the drain using some rope.

After establishing a foothold in the cavity, he swiftly scooped the soggy cat from the canal and into the hole with him.

The 1 min 13 sec video stopped before the cat was lifted to safety, but there was a dramatic account of the rescue on the Facebook page of cat interest group Yishun 326 Tabby cat.

The post said: "Suddenly there was a voice behind the slowly built up crowd saying 'Come, I help him!' An Indian foreign worker did not hesitate to climb down the railings while the water was still gushing ferociously in the big and deep canal despite of a few people told him not to. It was slippery and dangerous. In the end everyone kept shouting 'careful! careful!'"

According to the account, the worker had help from passers-by, who helped him find rope, and an orange bag which they used to lift the cat out of the drain.

The frightened cat was meowing loudly, and even tried to bite his rescuer, the Facebook post said.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) arrived later and helped the worker climb out with a ladder.

The post added: "The kind foreign worker, he is a hero with such a big heart. If it was not for him, the cat could have died. All the uncles who stopped and helped, thank you!"

The post has been shared more than 700 times, and the video has chalked up about 13,000 views as of Friday evening.

Watch the video and read the full account here: