In a heartwarming turn of events, a dedicated group of volunteers succeeded in rescuing a dog that had tumbled 55 meters down a waterfall alongside its owner just a week earlier. The dramatic incident unfolded in New Zealand’s South Island, within the rugged terrain of the Arahura Valley’s Campbell Range.
On March 24, Jessica Johnston found herself in a harrowing situation when she was swept over the waterfall. Fortunately, she was saved by a helicopter, but her loyal border collie, Molly, slipped from her grasp during the terrifying fall.
After a distressing week of separation, the emotional reunion between Jessica and Molly finally took place on Tuesday. Lillian Newton, associated with Precision Helicopters, had followed the story closely. Despite the odds, she felt a strong intuition that Molly had survived the ordeal.
Driven by compassion, the family-run business was eager to assist in the search for Molly. However, the high operational cost of the helicopter, estimated at $50 per minute, posed a significant financial challenge. Nevertheless, with a resilient spirit and a community rallying behind them, they embarked on the mission to reunite the inseparable duo.
Lillian Newton, from Precision Helicopters, had heard the heartbreaking tale of the two’s accident last week but told The Guardian she had a ‘gut feeling’ Molly survived.
The family business wanted to help Ms Johnston find her lost pup but couldn’t afford to do so on their own, as the helicopter costs around $50 per minute to run.
So, with Ms Johnston’s permission, the business launched a donations page which received $11,500 within just eight hours.
As the Southern Alps, where Molly was missing, is ‘extremely remote, rough, bushy and wet’, Ms Newton created a team of volunteers best suited to find Molly quickly.
Jessica Johnston was reunited with her dog Molly (pictured together) on Tuesday
Ms Johnston had been holding Molly (above) when she fell down a waterfall on March 24
One of the volunteers’ dogs, Bingo, also joined the squad in case Molly needed emotional support.
Ms Newton’s father, Matt, a former rescue helicopter pilot, headed the mission and the group travelled to the waterfall on Tuesday.
‘They went directly to the spot where the owner, Jessica, had fallen. Much to our surprise, Molly was there,’ Ms Newton said.
The volunteers had been hopeful when they saw a red lump appear on the thermal detection equipment but were worried it could be a possum.
To their joy, it became clear the object was Molly as the helicopter neared.
The dog was resting in a ‘challenging little spot’ with sharp, mossy rocks and spraying mist so Matt hovered the helicopter just low enough for one of the volunteers, Wayne, to jump out.
With Bingo under one arm, Wayne lured Molly with a piece of sausage, scooped her from the rocks and loaded her into the helicopter.
It’s believed Molly initially fell in a different location but hiked to where Ms Johnston had last been and survived by eating possums.
A group of volunteers rescued Molly (above) on Tuesday
It’s believed Molly (above) had landed in a different location to Ms Johnston but hiked to where her owner had last been
‘Someone told me that I would be ‘lotto lucky’ to find her, so for it all to pay off is just amazing,’ Ms Newton said.
The water had borne the brunt of Ms Johnston’s fall but she still suffered a split elbow and was bruised from head to toe.
Fortunately, she’d been let out of hospital just in time to reunite with Molly.
An emotional video showed Molly running to jump to Ms Johnston, who sat on the ground and cried as they hugged.
The team at Precision Helicopters were glad to see the pair together again and wished Ms Johnston a quick recovery.
‘I’d say she’ll heal up a lot better now,’ Ms Newton said.
In a Facebook post Johnston said it had been ‘a bloody rough week, but with both of us back home I can add this adventure to the list’.
‘Still a great trip before our lives got turned upside down,’ she wrote.
