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A dog has been saved after it was found drifting in a kayak on the North Sea near Northumberland.
The daring rescue mission began when a sightseeing trip around the Farne Islands by Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours was interrupted by a call from the coastguard at around 3.30pm on Sunday.
‘While taking guests to Inner Farne, skipper Jimmy Reid heard a coastguard call reporting that an inflatable kayak carrying a dog had been blown out to sea in strong winds,’ the tour company said on Facebook.
In an accompanying video, a crew member can be heard speaking to the coastguard as they explain the situation.
After the passengers were dropped ashore on Inner Farne, Jimmy and crewman Aaron Fordy joined the search for the missing German Shepherd.
At first, the team’s efforts were fruitless, and they were beginning to lose hope. But after around 15 minutes, Aaron spotted the kayak floating in the distance.
‘We have eyes on the kayak,’ a crew member could be heard telling the coastguard in footage of the rescue. ‘It looks empty at the moment. We’re approaching it now.’
The crew became worried about what may have happened to the dog as they approached the boat.
But suddenly, a head emerged from the lip of the boat, and the canine was found alive and well.
The crew members reached out to grab the dog’s harness – but he slipped from the rescuers’ grip and fell back into the ocean.
Aaron, quick to respond, lunged into the ocean and grabbed the pet by the scruff of his neck, and almost went overboard.
Luckily, Jimmy was on hand to stop Aaron from plunging into the depths, grabbing his leg and together hauling the dog onto the boat.
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In the footage, a crew member can be heard saying: ‘We got a dog! How are you doing, buddy?’
Speaking to the dog, another says: ‘You did very well staying calm, though. We have a guest onboard. Don’t we buddy?’
The crew member then branded the black German Shepherd ‘the goodest of boys’.
The pair then returned to Seahouses Harbour, where they watched as the dog was reunited with his emotional owners.
Posting to Facebook, the tour company said: ‘A huge well done to Jimmy and Aaron for their incredible teamwork, quick thinking and determination. One dog. One rescue. One very happy ending.’