By Jed Lanyon
A Yarra Valley man is on the lookout for a Warburton resident named Rita, who provided assistance after he and his dog became stuck in Watts River on Thursday 11 March.
Healesville resident Karl took 16 year old Boof for a walk in the morning, when the Staffy fell into the river.
The 78 year old entered the river in fear that his dog would drown. as boof lost his back leg when he was accidentally struck by the family’s four-wheel drive during the Black Saturday Bushfires. Boof was hiding from the smoke and went missing as his family were forced to flee.
Karl attempted to pull Boof from the river but fell in himself where he was unable to gain a foothold on the slippery riverbank and remained there for over two hours.
Now Karl wants to put a reminder out to the community about the risks of travelling with earphones in after two joggers went past without hearing his requests for help.
Thankfully, a Warburton resident named Rita answered Karl’s call helping to rescue him and Boof, who had remained by his side the entire time.
Karl and his partner feared for what might have happened if he had fallen into the water during winter or if no one had heard his cries for help.
Karl’s attempts to get back in touch with his rescuer have been unsuccessful so far as he hopes to express his gratitude to the woman who took the time to help him from the river, covered in mud with a few scrapes and bruises.
