Fearless Golden Retriever Jumps Out of Moving Car — and Lands in a Rescue Mission
Meet Matilda, a lively and adventurous golden retriever whose fearless spirit recently gave her mom — and local firefighters — quite the scare.
Last month, while driving across an overpass above New York’s Muscoot Reservoir, Matilda decided that sticking her head out the car window wasn’t exciting enough. In a split second, the curious pup leapt out of the moving car, plunging about 25 feet down into the reservoir below.
Miraculously, she landed safely in the water and paddled her way to a small nearby island. Her terrified mom immediately called for help, and within minutes, the Katonah Fire Department (KFD) arrived on scene.
Ten firefighters brought an inflatable rescue boat, which they carried down to the shoreline before launching into the water. Guided by Matilda’s faint barks and the rustle of leaves, the rescuers soon spotted her — perched on the island, surrounded by bright green foliage, wagging her tail as if she hadn’t just pulled off a stunt straight out of an action movie.
“Once the responders got to her, she was very cooperative and had no issue being picked up and brought into the boat,” a KFD representative told The Dodo.
Despite her daring leap, Matilda escaped without a single injury — just a little damp and tired from her impromptu swim.
Once she was safely back on land, the firefighters reunited Matilda with her relieved and emotional mom, who couldn’t believe her pup had survived the fall.
“It’s not often KFD gets a call like this,” the department’s representative added. “Everyone was very happy with how quickly we were able to reach Matilda and get her back safely to her owner.”
From a 25-foot plunge to a heartwarming reunion, Matilda’s wild adventure ended just the way everyone hoped — safe, sound, and wagging.