CENA heroic dog owner didn’t hesitate to dive into a deadly torrent of water to save his beloved dog after he fell in and got swept away.
The incident took place in the district of San Miguelito in Panama, where a heavy rainstorm caused the river Sinai to burst its banks.
Footage shows the moment Manuel Calderon, 35, plunged into the fast-flowing, treacherous water to chase down his dog, which had got caught in the current.
Take a look at the scene here:
In the video, the white dog can be seen hesitating in the shallows of the water before attempting to make his way to his owner, who was waiting on the other side.
Locals say Calderon, who sells vegetables for a living, had already crossed the river in the hopes his dog, Fulo, would follow him.
The man had presumably thought the dog would be able to cross without a problem, but the rushing water proved too powerful for the pup and Fulo disappeared with a yelp into the river after trying to get to Calderon.
CENThankfully the owner acted quickly and jumped headfirst into the deep water before swimming downstream, where he caught up with the white dog. The man and his faithful pet managed to come to a stop at a nearby bank and the footage shows Calderon carrying his pet back to dry land.
Speaking to local reporters, the 35-year-old said:
I was focused on the dog. And thank God I managed to grab him… I threw him onto the bank and got out some metres later.
CENThough the rushing river could have proved fatal to both Fulo and Calderon, the devoted owner admitted he didn’t think about the risk when it came to saving his pet.
He explained:
An animal, just for being an animal, does not deserve to be disregarded, because it is a life after all. I ask you to take care of them because they also have feelings.
Local media report Calderon was abandoned by his parents and grew up by himself, which may make him even more attached to his pet than other dog owners.
CENHector Valdes, the Mayor of the city, said Calderon had joined the Department of Animal Welfare.
The owner’s selfless actions definitely paid off; hopefully both Fulo and Calderon managed to get home safely and dry off after their scary ordeal.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.