Dog Rescued 2.5 Miles Out to Sea After Kayak Blows Away

When tour boat skipper Jimmy Reid spotted a kayak bobbing in the North Sea with a dog aboard, he knew every second counted.

Bruce, a shaggy dog out for what should have been a peaceful kayak trip with his owner, had been swept 4 kilometers offshore near England's Farne Islands. Strong winds whipped up suddenly, catching the pair off guard and blowing their inflatable kayak out to sea.

Bruce's owner tried swimming after the kayak but quickly realized he couldn't catch up. He made the critical decision to turn back and call for help instead.

Reid, who operates Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours from Northumberland, responded to the coastguard's call. Finding a blue and white kayak on blue and white water was "like looking for a needle in a haystack," he said.

When the crew finally reached Bruce after his two-hour ordeal in 8-degree Celsius water, the rescue turned dangerous. Crew member Aaron lunged forward and grabbed the exhausted dog by the scruff of his neck just as Bruce slipped beneath the surface.

The force nearly pulled Aaron overboard. His body slipped over the edge of the vessel, with only one foot hooked around the doorway keeping him attached.

Reid grabbed Aaron's leg, and for several heart-stopping seconds, man, dog, and rescuer hung precariously above the freezing sea. Together, they hauled the wet, shivering Bruce aboard.

Sunny's Take

Wrapped in towels and warming up, Bruce perked up within 30 minutes. "You are the goodest of boys," Reid told him with pats and reassurance.

By the time they reached shore, Bruce was ready to go, tail wagging as he reunited with his relieved owner. The crew's man-overboard equipment wasn't designed for dogs, but quick thinking and teamwork saved the day anyway.

Reid called finding Bruce amazing, but getting him back "healthy and happy to people who obviously loved and cared for him was brilliant." Bruce's next adventure will hopefully involve calmer waters.