Boat crash ends with ‘sweet’ dog nowhere to be found. Then came moment of ‘sheer joy’
A boat crash ended with a “sweet” pet dog nowhere to be found — then came a moment of “sheer joy.”
Rocky the golden retriever was found safe June 25, two days after he disappeared on a South Carolina river.
“It felt like a miracle,” owner Kim Wiseman told McClatchy News in a phone interview. “It really did. We had sleepless nights worrying just the worst fear. The worst of course that he was gone or also that he’s suffering.”
Rocky has been a beloved member of the Wiseman family for more than a year, since he was a puppy. Over time, he has become known for his “sweet” personality and his love for the Charleston family’s boat.
“He’s everyone’s friend,” Wiseman said. “He’s just the most loving dog, gets along with everyone.”
On June 23, Wiseman’s husband, Jeff, was operating his boat on the Ashley River with Rocky on board. The boat strayed to one side and crashed into an abandoned dock, sending the captain into the water.
The husband had seven broken ribs and other injuries. But he was “crushed” that he couldn’t find Rocky as darkness started to set in.
“Our worst fear of course was that Rocky had perished and he was in the water somewhere,” Kim Wiseman said. “But because of that life jacket ... that life vest that he had on, we knew he would have been seen. That did give us some hope.”
The family called in first responders and also searched the area near Dolphin Cove Marina for any signs of Rocky. Wiseman posted about the missing pup on Facebook while at the hospital with her husband.
Then, Rocky’s story started to gain traction. Several social media pages shared it as people used drones, kayaks and other tools to search for the pup on the ground.
“The community response was just overwhelming, and it truly is what brought Rocky home,” Wiseman said, adding that a couple living on the opposite side of the river spotted Rocky in their backyard and recognized him as the lost dog.
Wiseman said she felt “sheer joy” and “relief” when her family got the call that Rocky was found. The pup was tired and had a swollen ankle but otherwise was OK. The Wisemans believe the long-awaited reunion came after Rocky’s life jacket helped to keep him alive.
“You can’t be too safe,” Wiseman said. “Jeff is a seasoned boater. He has been on a boat his whole life. And in a moment of just carelessness, things can happen. Accidents happen.”
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