Rescuetech - a voluntary search and rescue organisation based in Durban South Africa, received a call for assistance from the SPCA regarding a puppy that had been trapped in a storm water drain pipe for more than 4 hours.

All available volunteers responded to the call and upon arrival found that a 6 week old puppy had fallen into a drain pipe and slid down out of sight. The puppy could be heard inside the pipe but could not be seen or reached.

Immediately the digging began, and for 7 straight hours a pit was dug tracing the pipe some 2 metres down into the rocky ground.

Invaluable assistance was received from the local department of storm water who sent out a crew with heavy breakers to help dig through the rocky soil until eventually the pipe was exposed enough that we were confident in breaking it open without any threat to the puppy's life.

As a last ditch attempt after not hearing from the puppy in almost two hours, one of the rescue technicians put his hand into the pipe and felt around, at that point the dog starting barking again and he kept on trying to feel if he could get the puppy in his hand. After a few minutes inverted and arm stretched down the pipe he got a grip on the starving puppy and pulled him out to safety to be re united with his mother.

Total length of the rescue was 7 hours and 20 minutes. Total time the puppy had been in the pipe was 14 hours.

Rescue was carried out by:
Rescuetech Search and Rescue
Durban and Coastal SPCA
Durban Metro Storm Water