Dog rescued swimmers from dangerous rip current

Two swimmers have Nico the dog to thank for their rescue after rip currents swept them out off the shore at a Venice County beach in California.



A woman was about 100 yards from the beach on Thursday afternoon, when she became caught in a rip tide. Her husband swam out to help her, but he became caught as well.

Nico, a 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, instinctively swam out into the ocean after the couple started screaming for help, dragging them back to safety. Nico's owners adopted him about six months ago and say he had no prior ocean experience before they got him.



Once the grateful, exhausted swimmers were back on the beach they asked Nico's owner, Dan Clark, if he was a trained rescue dog. Dan said, "This is the first I've ever seen him do anything like that."

With news video.