A dog has been saved in an exhausting rescue effort after it spent nearly two hours trapped under a southeast Wichita bridge in rising flood waters.
Firemen were called after a man’s 100 lb. lab mix fell into the water and became trapped under a ledge, and immediately went to work trying to locate the dog when they arrived.
Photojournalist Travis Heying was on the scene. Employed by the Wichita Eagle, Heying expected a routine photo shoot when things took a very dramatic turn. The pictures below are from a series of tweets he sent, and offer a close-up look at a heroic effort to save the stranded canine, who was eventually freed after crews cut away the ledge with a hydraulic saw.
I just watched the Wichita Fire Dept. spend 2.5 hours rescuing a dog that fellin a swollen creek and it was amazing.
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
No one thought that dog was alive until a fire fighter heard it breathing and nose sticking out from a tiny hole in concrete.
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Firefighter searches for opening where dog may have found an air pocket. He finds no opening. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Firefighter attempts to punch hole through concrete with a sledgehammer. No luck. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
WFD brings scuba diver to find opening where dog may have gotten into air pocket. Again, no luck. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Divers take one last look but find nothing. WFD captain assembles media to announce search is ending. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
While cleanup is happening, one very alert firefighter sees and hears this. Nothing short of amazing. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Dog’s owner is brought down so “Taz” can hear his voice. Cutting begins. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Hydraulic saw is used to cut an opening away from the dog. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
After 2.5 hours, in which he was surely terrified, Taz emerges from an opening. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
A very scared dog and a very happy owner are reunited. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Taz meets the WFD captain in charge of his rescue. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Last photo. Taz and owner head for home. On a side note: I love my job. twitter.com/travisheying/s…
— Travis Heying (@travisheying) April 12, 2012
Local news affiliate WKSN had a camera rolling at the scene.