Dog’s Barking Saves 81-Year-old Whose Wheelchair Tumbles into Lake

• Harry Smith, 81, tumbled into the lake and was submerged up to his neck after his electric wheelchair lost traction.
• Sarah Jane, his beagle mix, started barking loudly and called the attention of bystanders.
• They were able to pull Harry safely out of the water with the help of an officer. 

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An 81-year-old man and his dog were on their morning walk around the lake when he lost control of his electric wheelchair. Unable to swim, he was nearly drowning but his beagle mix Sarah Jane jumped into action.

Harry Smith’s electric wheelchair lost traction in the mulch, causing it to slide down the bank. His wheelchair flipped off into the water in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Harry was in dire need of help as he could not swim and struggled to stay afloat.

Sensing Harry was in trouble, Sarah Jane began barking like crazy. His barking was so loud, it called the attention of two bystanders across the street.

Edward Suhling and his friend Jacob rushed over to the lake and flagged down a local police officer.

When Officer Doty arrived, he saw Smith submerged up to his neck in the water.

Officer Doty, Edward and Jacob teamed up to pull Harry out of the water and up the bank. Fortunately, he did not suffer any injuries and did not require hospitalization. He was healthy enough to return home.

His electric wheelchair, however, was damaged from dropping into the water, so the first responders pushed him back to his house. Sarah Jane wagged her tail all the way back.

“The saying remains true…A man’s best friend is his dog,” the Port St. Lucie Police Department wrote on their Facebook page.

“I gave her a treat,” grinned Harry. “I love her so much.”

Source: Good News Network