Tow Truck Driver Rescues Moose Stuck in Frozen Lake

When Clint Gottinger left his home for routine towing jobs on April 26, he never imagined he'd save a life that evening.

The owner of Rebel Towing in Kelvington, Saskatchewan spotted something unusual near his property: a small moose struggling in four feet of icy water. The exhausted animal looked defeated, barely able to keep fighting.

Gottinger couldn't just drive past. "I thought to myself, I cannot see the poor guy suffer and leave him there," he told reporters.

He backed his tow truck as close as possible to the water's edge and extended the truck's deck toward the struggling moose. Using a soft sling, he gently looped it around the animal's head.

The moose was so tired it didn't resist. With help from a neighbor, Gottinger carefully pulled the baby moose onto his truck deck around 5:30 p.m., saving it from freezing water that likely would have claimed its life.

But Gottinger's compassion didn't stop there. The rescued moose sat shivering on the truck, cold and exhausted from its ordeal.

Gottinger called his wife with an unusual request: bring blankets to the driveway. "I have a moose on my deck!" he explained, leaving her understandably confused.

She met him with warm blankets, and together they kept the moose comfortable while it recovered from shock. Gottinger nicknamed the animal "Rebel" after his towing company.

His out-of-town customers waited patiently, completely understanding when they learned about the rescue mission. After Rebel regained his strength, Gottinger released him near the woods, where photos show the young moose walking freely once again.

Gottinger shared the rescue photos on Facebook, where they quickly went viral. Thousands of people celebrated his quick thinking and gentle approach to saving the stranded animal.

Sunny's Take

This story perfectly captures what happens when someone simply refuses to look away from suffering. Gottinger had every excuse to keep driving: he was on his way to paying jobs, the rescue would be difficult, and wild animals can be dangerous.

Instead, he saw a creature in need and used the tools he had available. His tow truck, designed to rescue vehicles, became a wildlife rescue platform.

The viral response shows how hungry people are for stories of everyday kindness, where ordinary people do extraordinary things simply because it's right.

One person who rescued one moose reminded thousands of others what compassion looks like in action.

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