Molly, a Border Collie, was found on 31/3 near the base of a waterfall, one week after she went missing. Molly disappeared on 24/3 when her owner, Jessica Johnston, fell 55 meters during a mountain hike. Jessica sustained serious injuries and was evacuated by rescue helicopter, but her dog was lost.
The chance of finding Molly was slim due to the remote location of the accident in the Campbell Range, Arahura Valley, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. However, Lillian Newton, a representative from Precision Helicopters, had a strong intuition that Molly was still alive.
Newton explained that their small business wanted to help but lacked the budget for a private search team, as helicopter operations cost USD 50 per minute. While search and rescue operations for people are common in the area, there are no funds allocated for rescuing lost animals in the New Zealand wilderness.
"We called Jess, and she agreed to let us publicize this information," Newton said. "The initial goal was to raise USD 2,400 and attract some experienced volunteers."
Within 8 hours, they successfully raised USD 11,500 from "complete strangers across New Zealand" and then ceased accepting donations. Following this, they began planning Molly's rescue.
Newton described the Southern Alps, where Molly went missing, as "extremely remote, rugged, dense, and wet." Despite the challenging terrain, a team of well-trained experts was ready to adapt their human search and rescue skills to this animal rescue mission.
Georgia, a volunteer, flew from Christchurch with thermal imaging equipment. Wayne, a helicopter pilot, also volunteered, bringing his dog Bingo to provide emotional support if Molly was distressed. Newton's father, Matt, a former rescue helicopter pilot, was responsible for flying the helicopter.
"They flew directly to where Jessica had fallen, and to everyone's surprise, Molly was there," Lillian Newton stated.
The rescue team believed Molly had not fallen down the waterfall with Jessica but had found her way to her owner's last known location before the accident. "It was a challenging small spot," Lillian Newton noted.
Molly was trapped at the base of the waterfall, surrounded by sharp, moss-covered rocks and mist. Matt Newton skillfully maneuvered the helicopter to a low hover, allowing Wayne to step out. After offering Molly some sausage, he gently carried her and Bingo into the helicopter.
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Molly on the helicopter returning to her owner. Photo: Guardian |
No one on the rescue team knew Jessica or Molly before the mission, yet finding Molly brought overwhelming joy to everyone involved.
"Someone told me I'd be 'lucky like winning the lottery' if we found Molly, and the feeling of our efforts paying off was truly wonderful," Lillian Newton expressed.
Jessica suffered a torn elbow and was bruised all over after the fall, enduring a difficult week awaiting news of Molly. Nevertheless, she considered it "still a great trip" because "both of us are safely home."
