Friends from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, went on a casual boat excursion that turned into a dramatic adventure when their boat capsized…
It was reported by NBC2 News that Bryn Crowell and her friends were on a boat excursion in the seas surrounding Fort Lauderdale when they spotted an abandoned, drowning tiny puppy battling to remain afloat alone in the wide ocean.
The people on the boat made the decision to rescue the dog from the stormy seas in which they discovered the canine and hauled the critter onboard with them. Crowell posted footage of the life-saving action to TikTok on Monday, and the video has received more than 9.9 million views since then.
It was “just Florida stuff,” Crowell wrote as a description for the popular video.
Someone from the boat, which is in choppy seas, can be seen hanging onto the tiny dog in the footage. A third person assists the canine in getting on board the boat as they paddle back to the starting point. The dog is instantly surrounded by animal enthusiasts who are concerned about him.
A series of follow-up videos from Crowell detail her and her friends’ successful efforts to reconnect the dog with his family, as well as how the pet got up alone on an island in the middle of nowhere.
According to Crowell’s TikTok, after rescuing Zuko, she and her pals “dialed the number” they discovered on the tag attached to the dog’s collar, which they then “called.” It was Zuko’s relieved owner who answered the phone, “weeping and appreciative.” Zuko’s owner lives a 20-minute boat trip away from where Crowell discovered the dog.
The owners of Zuko’s family thanked Crowell and her friends for riding over to reunite him with his family by giving them $300 to cover their petrol expenses as a gesture of gratitude.
Crowell posted a third TikTok in which he shared a text discussion with Zuko’s owner about how the dog wound up in the water, according to the video.
It states, “He was jumping about in the rear of the boat, ‘biting’ the waves that passed by, and I assume in one of those times he must’ve leaped a little too high and went overboard.”
According to a text message from Zuko’s owner…
They also said that when they realized Zuko had gone missing, they searched the yacht with their family, figuring Zuko had taken refuge somewhere. After they failed to locate him, they attempted to retrace their boat voyage but were unsuccessful.
As a result, they consider it a “miracle” that Crowell and her friends were able to return Zuko safely to his owner.
When Crowell posted a fourth update on Zuko on her TikTok account, she said that the pup is in excellent condition after his ocean trauma and that his owners are very appreciative for Crowell and her friends’ prompt thinking.
Watch the full video below…