Adventure enthusiast and YouTuber Tom Hudson became an unexpected hero when he saved a dog that was trapped under a log during his solo canoe trip across Canada.
While paddling along a quiet river, Tom spotted a white figure struggling near the muddy riverbank. Upon closer inspection, he discovered Ivy, a 14-year-old Great Pyrenees, stuck in thick mud with her legs trapped beneath a fallen log. Exhausted, shivering, and barely able to move, Ivy had reportedly been missing for several days.
Without hesitation, Tom waded into the cold water, carefully freeing the elderly dog from the mud and log. Despite her weakened state, Ivy managed to lift her head and wag her tail faintly as if to thank her rescuer.
Tom gently lifted Ivy into his canoe, wrapping her in a blanket to keep her warm. As they drifted down the river, Tom spoke softly to her, reassuring her that she was safe. The heartwarming moment was captured on video and later uploaded to his YouTube channel, What In The World, where it quickly went viral.
After a long paddle, Tom reached a nearby dock that turned out to belong to Ivy’s owners, Tom and Janine, who had been frantically searching for her for days. The reunion was filled with relief and tears — Ivy’s family immediately fed her, gave her water, and washed off the mud while thanking Tom for his kindness and quick action.
Tom later explained that Ivy had been half-submerged in water and likely wouldn’t have survived another day without help. “It was pure luck that I happened to pass by at that moment,” he said.
The touching rescue drew international attention, with many praising Tom for his bravery, compassion, and presence of mind. He humbly responded, saying he was simply “in the right place at the right time” — but to Ivy and her family, his timing made all the difference.