A sightseeing boat crew became part of an unexpected rescue mission after a dog drifted miles out to sea in an inflatable kayak.
Bruce, a large black Alsatian, had been playing in the waves along the Northumberland coast in northeast England when his owner placed him in a small inflatable boat. The plan was for Bruce to float nearby while his owner swam beside him.
But suddenly, a strong gust of wind pushed the boat away from shore.
Within moments, Bruce was being carried farther and farther out into the North Sea.
His owner tried desperately to swim after him, but the kayak was moving too quickly. Realizing he couldnโt catch up safely, he turned back and raised the alarm.
Coast guard crews from Seahouses quickly began searching for the dog. Around the same time, the crew of Serenity Farne Islands Boat Tours heard the alert over the radio while returning from a tour.
Captain Jimmy Reid and crewman Aaron joined the search.
For nearly two hours, they scanned the water. Then, in the distance, they spotted the inflatable boat floating on the horizon. At first, they couldnโt tell whether Bruce was still inside.
As they got closer, their worries turned to relief โ Bruce was still there.
The crew quickly moved in to rescue him. They first tried to place a harness around him, but it slipped off and Bruce fell into the water. Thankfully, Aaron reacted fast, reaching down and grabbing the dog by the scruff of his neck before pulling him safely onto the boat.
Bruce was cold and showing signs of hypothermia, so the crew wrapped him in towels to help warm him up during the ride back to shore.
Soon after, Bruce was reunited with his very relieved owner.
Captain Reid later said the moment they found Bruce safe in the boat was incredibly emotional. After such a frightening ordeal, everyone was overjoyed that the dog had survived his unexpected trip out to sea.