A hiker fell from an 180-foot waterfall in wild New Zealand bush and was airlifted on March 24 without her pet, a border collie named Molly. The dog was found bedraggled and hungry just a few meters from the fall site but was not located during initial searches.
Matt Newton, owner-operator of Precision Helicopters New Zealand, launched a fundraiser after his unsuccessful search for Molly. Donations exceeded 11,000 New Zealand dollars ($6,300), enabling more flying hours and advanced search gear.
Newton took to the skies with a veterinary nurse, volunteer searchers, and a dog named Bingo on Tuesday. Thermal imaging equipment helped locate Molly within an hour. A volunteer disembarked from the helicopter with rescue dog Bingo to coax Molly to safety.
Molly was in surprisingly good condition when rescued. Her owner arrived for a tearful reunion hours later. The incident follows another dramatic canine rescue in the U.S., where police used a helicopter to save a goldendoodle struggling in freezing waters near Syracuse, New York.