Heartwarming moment firefighter rescues exhausted labradoodle Lucy from a chunk of ice floating on the Detroit River
- Lucy the labradoodle ran off from its owner while walking near the Detriot River
- The dog ran onto the ice-covered river and was unable to return to the bank
- Luckily, a firefighter using special cold water gear was able to rescue the dog
This is the moment a hero firefighter rescued a wet and exhausted dog from the freezing Detroit River after the pet plunged in while out for a walk with its owner.
The labradoodle, called Lucy, was stranded on a large chunk of ice floating in the river in Wyandotte, Michigan, on Monday after managing to scramble on to it.
Fortunately, she was spotted crouched on the ice floe and police were called.
‘If not for that,’ Wyandotte Deputy Police Chief Archie Hamilton said, ‘that dog would have froze to death or drowned.’
A firefighter in Wyandotte, Michigan entered the freezing Detroit River on February 28 to rescue Lucy the Labradoodle who had fallen into the water ending floating on a piece of ice
He hauled the exhausted, wet and cold 80-pound dog up the ladder and back to dry land
Police were first to respond to the call, which came in at about 4.15pm, Hamilton said, and at that point, the dog was 40-50 feet from the banks.
Officers were soon joined by firefighters and the final moments of the rescue were caught on video.
A firefighter equipped with specialist cold water clothing and attached to a safety harness, made his way down a ladder into the frigid water towards the exhausted dog perched precariously on the block of ice.
The firefighter, using a special pole with a loop was able to tether Lucy, who first responders estimate weighs around 80 pounds, and drag her towards the shore.
Lucy was initially reluctant to enter the water, but a few moments later she had been carried up the ladder and was back on dry land.
A spokesperson for Wyandotte Police Department said: ‘WPD, animal control and WFD teamed up for a pretty sweet rescue Monday afternoon.
‘A labradoodle had gotten away from its owner while on a walk and ended up jumping into the freezing cold Detroit River.
‘The poor pooch somehow managed to climb onto a chunk of ice but it was drifting away in the river while the dog was freezing.
‘Our team was able to move the ice close to the riverbank and our FD snagged the dog around its neck with a “catchpole”.
‘The rescuer did this while standing on a slippery ladder that was submerged in the river while his co-workers held onto him via a rope.’
The police added: ‘Truly an amazing and awesome rescue. Our video captured the end of the rescue.’
The firefighter, who was wearing specialist cold water clothing, used a ‘catch pole’ to snare the dog and coax it back to land
The firefighter quickly scoops Lucy out of the water and carries her up the ladder
Moments later the cold dog was back on dry land having suffered no lasting damage
The heartwarming rescue video has captured the hearts of viewers online.
Heather Clemons said: ‘Great job officers, and fire department.
‘Glad the pup was rescued and no one was hurt.’
Angelo Cammarata said: ‘Way to go everyone involved with the dog rescue.’
Jean Folk said: ‘Thank you so much for saving that dog.
‘Super strong officer literally lifting that wet dog up that ladder.’
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