This is moment quick-thinking builders were able to rescue a dog from drowning in an irrigation channel in Ecuador by using their digger.
Builders working near an irrigation channel in Pasaje Canton received a radio alert that there was a dog being carried down the fast-moving water towards them, and it was drowning.
Heartwarming footage shows a builder, named locally as Abel Murillo, climbing into the scoop of a digger while a workmate extends it out across the channel and lowers it to just above the water.
Builders working by an irrigation channel in Pasaje Canton were warned by people further up that there was a dog being carried along the current of fast-moving water and it was drowning
Heartwarming footage shows a builder, named locally as Abel Murillo, climbing into the scoop of a digger while another builder extends it out across the channel and down so it is just above the water
The other builders start shouting as the dog comes into view, desperately trying to keep her head above the dirty water and floating debris.
Mr Murillo calls out to the dog and she is carried towards him in the digger scoop.
He manages to get a firm hold on the loose skin of her back, and the terrified animal bites him, before he manages to haul her up into the scoop.
Mr Murillo’s colleagues lift them both back onto dry land, before the soggy dog gets out, dazed but apparently unharmed.
The builders said they did a collection and raised money to take the dog to the vet, who was treated for inflammation and an infection.
Recounting the daring rescue in a radio interview, Mr Murillo said the builders had been alerted that the dog had been swept away when the water channel was opened.
The other builders start shouting as the dog comes into view, desperately trying to keep her head above the dirty water
She flows right into the path of Mr Murillo in the digger and he scrabbles to get a grip on her
He added: ‘We decided to get down with a bucket to rescue the dog, as seen in the video.’
Another builder in the video, Cristian, said the dog looked exhausted as it battled against the water.
Their colleague Luis, who is seen climbing onto the pipe in the video, said the three of them were determined to rescue the dog, adding: ‘Thank God we were able to catch it, we could give the animal another chance to live.’
Mr Murillo manages to get a firm hold on the saggy skin on the back of the dog and hauls him up into the digger before the pair are lifted to safety
The dog is then freed from the scoop of the digger and stands looking slightly baffled about her ordeal but appears unharmed
Mr Murillo said the dog was in bad condition but the builders collected money to take it to a vet who treated it for an infection
Mr Murillo added: ‘The dog was almost about to let go because, with the force of the water, the dog hit the bucket and wanted to go under it.
‘Then, what I did was to grab the dog and it bit me but only with a slight bite.
‘We could still get it out. It was in bad condition. We did a collection and took it to the vet who gave it some injections.
‘A few moments ago, the dog was around here, but I think it’s gone now.’
Sources:dailymail.co.uk
