Pennington residents shared a feel-good story that is warming hearts throughtout South Africa; heroes helped rescue a dog stuck in a cave at Umdoni Point Beach.
Umdoni Point, South Africa (27 October 2022) – There are so many heroes amoung us, they just don’t know it until their moment calls apon them. Several people became heroes recently, as they worked to save a dog named Daisy. Daisy had accidently wandered into a cave and got stuck!
Viv Sandwith shared Mary McKenzie’s story of how events unfolded and names as many of the heroes as she could. It all started at Umdoni Point in Pennington on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Brendan was at the beach walking his mom’s dogs Daisy and Tyler. While walking along the rocks, Daisy got a little too curious and wandered into a small cave. She got stuck and Brendan was unable to get her out.
He dashed for help and came apon the Beach Café where he begged for help. Mary McKenzie, who was due to have an important meeting, stopped everything and ran to help. She was joined by Viv Sandwith and Linda Stead,
“It was an extremely hot day and clambering over the rocks was not easy. If you have ever walked across the rocks at Umdoni Point to the King’s Tidal Pool, you will know exactly what I mean! (It is a long way from Pennington Main Beach to Umdoni Point beach!)
I could not keep up with Brendan and in spite of my anxiety about Daisy, continued relatively slowly and carefully, keeping him in view – At this point he was a dot on the horizon!” – Mary McKenzie
Viv had immediatly called for help and Paul Tedder from P&G Construction brought along his crew. They all made their way to the cave where Brendan had once again attempted to crawl in.
“When I arrived, Brendan had crawled into the cave for his third attempt at rescuing Daisy, but he couldn’t get in far enough to get a good grip on her. He came out hot, wet, muddy and very discouraged.
Two of the P&G helpers went into the cave, Khumalo Sduduzo, followed by Nswayibani Mhlangabezwa and although they all tried extremely hard – No joy. They were followed by Jake Tedder and he spent ages in the cave, but couldn’t reach her. We could hear him talking to Daisy encouraging her to get out on her own on the basis that she had got her head into the hole, surely she could get it out, but that was not to be.”
People started coming up with ideas on how to get Daisy out. A chisel, hammer and torch were sent for. Before long, the people surrounding Daisy had started to feel dehyrdated. A call for water was made and Rynardt Crous form Umdoni Park obliged, bring water for all.
The rescue was proving to be a long, tough one and a few heartbreaking senarios, including euthinasia, were explored much to everyones dismay. Thankfully, nobody waivered and they were determined to get Daisy out alive.
“Everyone was totally committed to rescuing Daisy, but we were becoming tired and disheartened and for those crawling into the cave, the situation was somewhat worse and so I decided, on behalf of the Pennington Conservancy, to offer a reward to the person who managed to rescue Daisy relatively unharmed.
Peter, one of the divers, re-entered the cave. Bear in mind that they could only go in lying flat on their tummies and leopard-crawl into the dark with their bodies completely disappearing from sight!
I was becoming more and more agitated as was everyone else, including a very concerned Tyler.
Peter the diver was in there for a very, very long time, but after a while we heard him shout: “I’ve got her!”
I am not sure who was the happiest or most relieved, but Daisy’s joy was heartwarming.
Bernadine, the owner of Daisy and Tyler (and Brendan’s mother) called later that day to thank all those involved.”
Bernadine and Mary spoke in length about the efforts made to rescue Daisy. Bernadine wanted to thank every person on the beach, so she made a list of all the heroes.
- Duncan Bowker;
- Jake Tedder;
- Khumalo Sduduzo;
- Morgan Pillay;
- Nswayibani Mhlangabezwa;
- Paul Tedder;
- Peter, Bheki and 3rd diver
- Pieter (Gladiator);
- Rynardt Crous; and
- Pennington Community Watch
- Several unknown others
“So many involved and committed Pennington community members working together” – Mary McKenzie
As Mary had penned the story of the rescue, and was the steering force behind keeping morale up, Viv made sure to honour her efforts too!
“Last, but not least, a big shout-out to Mary McKenzie who did not hesitate to abandon her online meeting with FNB head office – and her sandals – to hotfoot it down the beach to rescue a Daisy in Distress. She doesn’t mention the tears she shed on the beach when hearing euthanasia had to be considered.
Also to Brendan for asking complete strangers to assist him when his mom’s dog was in trouble.
The world needs more compassionate people like this” – Viv Sandwith
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