Dog Rescued 2 Hours After Being Blown Out to Sea in Inflatable Kayak by Strong Winds: Shocking Video

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NEED TO KNOW

  • Bruce the Alsatian was blown out to sea on a kayak by strong winds off Bamburgh Beach in England
  • Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours rescued Bruce after a dramatic search involving the Coast Guard and their crew
  • Bruce was reunited with his owner, who expressed gratitude to the rescuers for saving his beloved dog

A daring rescue saved one scared dog, who was blown out to sea on a kayak in England.

Bruce the Alsatian was dragged out to sea by a “sudden gust of wind” off Bamburgh Beach in England, Chronicle Live and BBC North East reported.

Two hours and 2.5 miles from where he first went missing, Bruce was found alive.

The inflatable kayak carrying a German Shepherd; The German Shepherd after being rescued
Bruce the dog rescued.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours/Facebook

"It was like a needle in a haystack," skipper Jimmy Reid told BBC North East. "The owner tried to swim out after the dog. In my opinion, he did the responsible thing. He just wasn't catching up, and he turned around. He went back to the beach, called the Coast Guard, and it went from there."

The Coast Guard reported the incident to Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours (SFIBT), who went out in search of the dog, they said in a release on Facebook. 

“What started as a normal day around the Farne Islands quickly became a race against time,” the SFIBT wrote. “While taking guests to Inner Farne, skipper Jimmy Reid heard a Coastguard call reporting that an inflatable kayak carrying a dog had been blown out to sea in strong winds.”

Reid along with crewman Aaron Fordy, went out in search of the missing pup.

“...With every minute passing, hope was fading. The strong westerly wind was carrying the kayak further and further out to sea,” the company continued. “Then Aaron spotted something in the distance … the kayak!”

SFIBT said they initially saw “no sign of the dog,” causing them to fear the worst. “Then, suddenly, a head appeared inside the kayak. The dog was alive!” they wrote. The team attempted to rescue Bruce by pulling him from his harness, but he “slipped free and plunged back into the sea.”

“Without hesitation, Aaron lunged over the side and grabbed the dog by the scruff of its neck. As he was almost pulled overboard himself, Jimmy grabbed hold of Aaron's leg and together they somehow managed to haul the dog safely aboard,” the SFIBT wrote.

Footage captured by the SFIBT showed the team cruising the ocean in search of Bruce. A kayak is then seen drifting in the ocean with Bruce sitting in the vessel, as the boat drives towards the dog.

The German Shepherd after being rescued nearly 5km out to sea off the Farne Islands following a dramatic maritime rescue.
Bruce the dog was rescued after being blown out to see on a kayak in England.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours/Facebook

Another team member is later heard saying over the phone, “I’m a coastguard, this is Serenity 4. We’re in position with the kayak. I have retrieved the dog from the kayak. The kayak itself is still floating free, but we will attempt to retrieve it momentarily.”

Bruce was next seen wrapped in towels on the boat, wagging his tail happily after being rescued.

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The German Shepherd was brought back to shore and reunited with his owner, Arron, per Chronicle Live. 

"I don't know what I would have done if he wasn't found,” Arron told the outlet. “I couldn't bring myself to leave him, but there's nothing I could do when he got so far out. Bruce is okay, home safe and sound, thanks to the Serenity Crew and everyone involved."