Rescue crews pull dog 200 metres offshore at Pollok Beach
An Australian Shepherd called Bean was caught in a rip current at Pollok Beach on Saturday afternoon and swept 200 metres out to sea. The National Sea Rescue Institute Gqeberha duty crew, already on station for training, launched rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha at 2.52pm. Lifeguards launched from the beach while Coastal Water Rescue swimmers responded from shore. A bystander paddled out on a Malibu rescue board to help. When the NSRI craft reached the scene half a kilometre offshore, rescue swimmer Mike Vermeulen entered the water, secured Bean, and brought the dog aboard. Bean appeared hypothermic and was wrapped in blankets and warmed by Vermeulen's body heat before being brought to the NSRI Gqeberha rescue station, where warming procedures continued.
A family pet caught in dangerous surf was recovered alive through coordinated response by rescue crews, lifeguards, and a member of the public.
Source: Dramatic rescue of dog washed 200m out to sea at Pollok Beach (theherald.co.za). Spotted via Good Good Good.
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