Dramatic Near-death Dog-rescue Caught on Tape

Davis Islands in Tampa, Florida is home to two commonly used dog parks- one of them having beach access. It was here where what started as a day of fun in the sun quickly turned to a scary situation for one unlucky pooch.

As a Labrador Retriever chased a ball into the water, a witness saw the dog fall under the surf. That’s when a bystander went out to grab the dog, reported Jeff Patterson of WFLA. As luck would have it, a fire truck was driving by during the incident.

Tim Hayes, captain of the Tampa Fire Rescue Station 17, explained, “Somebody came running out flagging us down. I had the driver stop, roll down the window and he said there is a dog that stopped breathing, can you come help us?”

In the video below, you’ll see that once the rescue team reached the beach, a heroic bystander was already performing CPR on the dog. Using the same oxygen equipment used for humans, the rescue team quickly went to help the dog by providing a human rescue mask. After administering oxygen for about 4 minutes the dog regained consciousness and was taken to nearby veterinarian.

The dog’s guardian later said that the dog is doing fine and thanked everyone for their help. 

Truly an amazing story and it’s also an important reminder of why it’s worth being especially vigilant around water.

To learn more about water safety for dogs, click here >>

For other summer safety tips, click here>>

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.