A modern-day Lassie saved his 53-year-old owner by leading a pair of rescuers to him after he fell 70 feet during a hike.
Saul, a black Border Collie, and his owner — who remains anonymous — were hiking near Tahoe National Forest in California on June 11 when the owner plunged 70 feet, which resulted in broken ribs and a broken hip.
Sgt. Dennis Haack of the Nevada County Search and Rescue team told local television station KCRA that the man was able to find cell service the next day at noon and spoke to first responders on the phone about his condition. However, the call dropped, local station CBS 13 reported.
First responders were able to contact a friend who pointed them to his campsite.
After searching through the forest, rescuers found him seven hours later, thanks to the help of his dog.
“At first we didn’t believe it because it sounded like a movie,” Haack said. “When they came back and actually described it to us, the reality was that they had followed the dog directly to the victim.”
When the rescuers approached, Saul ran 200 yards across the forest to alert the rescue team where his owner was. Haack told KCRA that he was jumping up and spinning when he found the search team.
The dog was able to lead the team to his owner, who was laying on the ground covered in a camouflage tarp. He was flown to the Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Saul received a “well-deserved dinner” as a reward for his heroics, according to a Facebook post from the Nevada County Search and Rescue team.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s department did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
Watch the video here: Insider
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