What Happened to Lost Dog Who Was Stranded in New Zealand? Everything to Know About Rescue

Finding one dog in some of New Zealand’s wettest, most isolated bush country is “a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack,” according to one of the pilots who searched for her. But Molly — a dog left behind after her owner fell from a 180-foot waterfall on March 24 — is home, thanks to a community fundraiser, thermal cameras and a team of volunteers willing to search for a week.

How Did Molly the Dog End Up Stranded Near a New Zealand Waterfall?

A hiker fell from a 180-foot waterfall in wild New Zealand bush, sustaining bruises and lacerations. Rescuers evacuated her on March 24, but her dog Molly was not found at the time.

Matt Newton, owner-operator of Precision Helicopters New Zealand based at Hokitika Gorge near the Arahura River where Molly went missing, reached out to the injured hiker directly.

“I contacted her in hospital and said I’d go for a look for it,” Matt told The Associated Press. “I went and looked for the dog several times and no avail.”

His daughter, Lillian Newton, safety manager and pilot for Precision Helicopters, told Outside Magazine she believed the dog was still out there.

“Unfortunately, when the rescue happened, Molly was nowhere to be seen. But I just started getting this gut feeling that Molly must still be alive,” Lillian said.

She also told the outlet the hiker was lucky to be alive because she “landed in some water at the bottom; otherwise, she could possibly have died” after the fall.

Why Finding a Lost Dog in This Terrain Required Thermal Cameras

The search area near the Arahura River was punishing. Lillian described conditions that made spotting one dog close to impossible.

“Looking for Molly was a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack. This terrain is extremely isolated, extremely rough. We have thick bush, and we have the most rainfall in New Zealand,” Lillian said. “It’s wet, it’s cold, and it’s rugged and gnarly. We said dog prayers the night before flying with our own dogs.”

The Newtons launched a fundraiser to pay for additional helicopter flight time and advanced search gear, including thermal cameras. Donations from the public helped fuel the effort.

How Rescuers Found the Lost Dog After a Week in the Wild

A week after she went missing, Matt, a veterinary nurse, volunteer searchers and a search dog named Bingo headed into the bush. The thermal camera changed everything.

“We struck jackpot within about an hour,” Matt said. “As we made our way up the river, we could see the dog in the thermal and then we could visually see it.”

Molly was huddled underneath the waterfall, just a few meters from the rocky spot where her owner had fallen. The helicopter flew low, dropping off the volunteer and Bingo, who helped calm her.

Then Molly jumped right into the helicopter.

Matt never lost hope during the search, assuming she probably survived off eating wild animals and avoided falling into the waterfall. He said she was found in “surprisingly good condition.”

“She knew what we were up to, I think,” he said. “She behaved real well. She didn’t run away and she was pleased to be rescued.”

What Happened When Molly Was Reunited With Her Owner?

Back at the helicopter base, the team celebrated. They “just had a big barbecue and all had a cuddle with Molly,” Matt said.

The hiker arrived hours later and was reunited with her dog.

“I think that’ll speed up her healing process somewhat,” Matt said. “Having your dog back, that’s for sure.”

Precision Helicopters shared a video from the rescue mission on Facebook with the caption: “Thank you to everybody who donated & volunteered to help, the success of saving Molly would not have been possible without this joint effort. What a happy ending to reunite her with Jess after her accident. 1 week lost in the wild, Molly will be happy to be home ❤️.”

The video showed Molly huddled and shivering near rocks before a rescuer grabbed her.

This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.