Pet rescued from Tākaka Hill tomo

On Saturday 10 June, the Tākaka and Upper Tākaka Volunteer Fire Brigades were called out to an animal rescue on Tākaka Hill walkway.

Upon arrival at the carpark, two of the brigades' 4x4 utes travelled 1.5km further up the track where they met a very distressed family. Their family pet had been missing for hours, and they had finally found her down a very steep tomo.

Tākaka Volunteer Fire Brigade are Level 2 line rescue certified, and had just completed a refresher course two weeks prior to this call. Officer in charge, senior station officer James Mackay, carried out a scene risk assessment while the team set up a lines rescue. Firefighter Kale Reid then donned a harness, roped up, and was lowered into the very narrow tomo. He squeezed his way approximately seven metres down to find a very happy dog looming out of the darkness to greet him. Luckily the tomo narrowed enough to stop the dog from falling any further. Kale says he shone his torch down through the gap but could not see the bottom.

Following communications with Kale, the surface team – Aaron McKenna, Greg Fellowes, Grant Lawrence, Bryan Bell, Wally Van Lier, Rowan Forster, Robbie Rosser and Geoff Trewavas – began the slow haul out. An hour and a half after arrival, Lindis the 11-year-old chocolate brown labrador was reunited with her very grateful family.

The family travelled from Motueka to the fire station last Tuesday night to present the brigade with a feast and refreshments, which was very much appreciated by the team. All in all, a great outcome for a very special family.

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