Coastguard Rescues Dog Swept Away in New Zealand River

When a dog was swept into the Waimakariri River near Christchurch on Monday night, its terrified owners thought they might lose their furry family member forever.

The couple had been walking their dog near Baynons Brake around 10pm when their pet got into trouble in the water. Within moments, the strong current carried the dog away, leaving it stranded on an island in the middle of the river.

One owner was so desperate to reach their pet that she jumped into the water herself. But the current was too strong, and she had to turn back to shore to avoid being swept away too.

That's when the North Canterbury Coastguard stepped in. Ten crew members grabbed their swift rescue boat and headed out into the dark river, determined to bring the dog home safely.

"Of course, the owners were distraught and wanted to get their dog back," said Logan Pryce, vice president of North Canterbury Coastguard. The crew eventually spotted the pup downstream on a stock bank, already trying to make its own way home.

Sunny's Take

This rescue carries extra meaning because the dog had traveled all the way from South Africa to be with this family. "They're just like family, aren't they?" Pryce said, capturing why his team didn't hesitate to launch a midnight rescue mission for a four-legged friend.

The reunion wasn't exactly smooth. The scared dog "obviously didn't want a bar of us when we found her," Pryce explained with a laugh, making the rescue a bit tricky.

But persistence paid off. The crew managed to guide the dog back upstream toward its owners, and the reunion was everything you'd hope for.

The team finally returned to base at 12:30am, nearly two hours after the initial call. Was it worth losing sleep over? Absolutely.

"The dog was real stoked to be back with its owners," Pryce said. He called it "a little bit of a different one for us, but you know, good to see some happy owners and a happy dog."

Sometimes the best rescues are the ones that keep families whole, even when those families have four legs and a tail.