Dog rescued 2km out to sea

A dog found swimming in the ocean about 2km from the Australian coast has been dubbed a "super pooch" by his rescuers and animal experts. The male bull terrier cross was plucked from rough seas on Saturday afternoon by two men who were on a day trip to High Island, about 6km off the coast of Fishery Falls, south of Cairns.

Paul Daniel and his mate Steven Pye found the dog as they made their way in a dinghy back to their camping site near the Russell River. Mr Daniel said he saw a "bobbing object" in the sea which looked like a buoy until he took a closer look.

"We couldn't believe it. We immediately wrapped a towel around him and took him back to the hut for fresh water and food," Mr Daniel, 41, said. "He's still at my house, he was a little bit slow for the first couple of days but he seems good now."



The animal was in poor condition when found, with cuts along his face, lice through his coat, one testicle and a crooked tail. Mystery surrounds how the dog got there and how long he had been in the water before being rescued. The dog has been taken to a veterinarian for a microchip scan to see if he has an owner. If no owner is identified, it is likely the dog will be put up for adoption.

Veterinarian Owen Lavers said a dog would be lucky to survive two hours in calm seas and believed the animal's survival was amazing. "If seas were calm it might be able to stay afloat for a couple of hours," Mr Lavers said. "If it was rough, I don't think it would last long. He's very lucky, I've never heard of anything like that."

Far Northern RSPCA inspector Cameron Buswell believed the dog likely jumped overboard when travelling with its owner.