One man’s best friend is being hailed as a hero.
In this case, the best friend is Heidi, a German Shepherd Dog, and the man is an unnamed 63-year-old from Brisbane, Australia. And she is being called a hero for helping to save her owner’s life when his boat sank off the coast.
According to the Queensland Police News, on Thursday, February 20th, the Moreton Bay, Australia, police department received notification from a fisherman who had seen Heidi swimming out in the bay. He reported that the dog had an assortment of gear floating around beside her, such as a fuel tank, a tackle box, a wetsuit, and a variety of other items. This all suggested that a boater had run into trouble.
Help is on the Way
Officers responded quickly, and Heidi was found and pulled from the water. While she was taken to a local veterinarian to be checked out, the Brisbane Water Police initiated a search and rescue operation to find her owner.
The Queensland Police News release states that the search included,
“The Rescue 500 helicopter, four police vessels, Marine Safety Queensland jet ski, Volunteer Marine Coast Guard and Volunteer Marine Rescue.”
During the course of the search, more items were found in the water as evidence that a boat had been in trouble, and this had the rescue crews fearing the worse.
It was hours after finding Heidi that police found her owner, still clinging to the side of his capsized, 13.5-foot vessel, out in Moreton Bay.
According to ABC News,
“The 63-year-old-man was rescued, and he told police that the boat lost power the evening before and began to take on water.”
Queensland Police News
Everyone is Safe and Sound
A Global News story states that after the boat sunk Heidi, her owner, and most of the boats equipment eventually became separated. They had been in the water together—presumably, he had been hanging onto the boat and his dog—before she drifted away.
At this point Heidi began to paddle—and she paddled for 11 hours before being spotted by the fisherman.
Thankfully, the vet who checked her out claimed her to be uninjured. Her owner was also taken to hospital, but he had no serious injuries to be tended to and was eventually released.
While waiting for her owner, Heidi was spoiled with some well-deserved food and a rest at the offices of the Brisbane Water Police.
Queensland Police News
A Safety Reminder
The department also took the opportunity to share a reminder with boaters.
“We would take this opportunity to remind boaties to plan for the worst when they’re out on the water,” said Senior Sergeant Jay Bairstow. “Always wear a personal flotation device and ensure that your safety equipment, including EPIRBs, are tested and in good order.”
And finally, praise for the heroic dog that wouldn’t give up on her human.
Senior Sergeant Bairstow shared this,
“Thankfully there was a happy ending to this search and Heidi was able to be our honorary PD for the day.”
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