WATCH: Dog rescued from St Lucia estuary

Every dog has its day, and that was definitely the case for a St Lucia stray that recently got a new lease on life.

Having returned to the jetty at the entrance to St Lucia after an estuary hippo and croc boat cruise last Sunday, Fannas skipper Sean Gass and his boatload of tourists encountered a strange sighting.

“When we got back to the jetty at around midday, we heard a dog howling,” said Gass.

“We quickly realised that a dog had jumped off the jetty, into the estuary, with at least two or three large crocs in the vicinity, as well as hippos.”

With around 1 200 crocodiles and 800 hippos calling the St Lucia estuary home, the rescue mission had to be quick.

Everyone jumped into action, but Gass said the hero of the day was Senzo Gumede, a car guard at the jetty parking lot, who selflessly climbed into the murky water in an attempt to lure the dog out and away from danger.

“But the dog just went further into the reeds,” said Gass.

With curious tourists anxious for a favourable outcome, Gass realised they needed ‘expert’ help to retrieve the terrified canine.

“I went home and got my own dog. When the dog in the estuary howled, my dog also howled, and this eventually coaxed the dog out from the reeds so we could lasso it.

“Senzo then lifted the dog out of the water onto the safety of the boat.”

After 90 minutes, the panic-stricken hound was safely aboard the Fannas vessel.

All’s well that ends well, and this curious canine was adopted by Senzo to live its best life away from the water’s edge.

It goes without saying that the boatload of foreign tourists will enjoy telling this quirky tale to friends and family back home.

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