A dog that was swept off rocks on the New South Wales far south coast has been rescued after swimming approximately 800 meters to one kilometer to Snapper Island. The rescue was conducted by Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on Monday afternoon.
Incident and Rescue
According to Marine Rescue NSW, two phone calls were received around noon on Monday reporting a dog in the water off Observation Point, Batemans Bay. The dog had been in the water for an estimated 20 to 30 minutes before swimming to Snapper Island, a one-hectare oval-shaped island located approximately 800 meters to one kilometer offshore.
A rescue team, including a vessel and a jetski, was assembled. Two volunteers on a jetski spent almost an hour attempting to coax the dog to safety. Rescue mission commander Rod Ingamells stated that the dog moved to different spots on the island, requiring volunteers to locate it three times before it could be secured. The dog was then transferred to the main rescue vessel and brought to shore.
Condition and Status
The dog was reported to have paw damage from sharp rocks on the island. It was placed under veterinary supervision.
The dog was handed over to Eurobodalla Shire Council rangers. According to Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan, the dog is not believed to be microchipped, and its owner has not been located at the time of reporting.
Contributing Factors
Inspector Glenn Sullivan noted that the calm, sunny sea conditions on the day of the incident contributed to the success of the rescue operation.