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Tag: Rescue

  • Boy swims 2.5 miles to save mom, siblings swept out to sea:

    A 13-year-old boy is credited with saving the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with an hourslong swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast.

    Austin Appelbee swam 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) to shore to raise the alarm after he got into difficulties on Friday with his mother Joanne Appelbee, 47, brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, 8, police said.

    “I think, at one point, I was thinking of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine,’ you know, trying to get the happiest things in my head, trying to make it through, like, not the bad things that’ll distract me,” Austin said Tuesday.  

    Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Austin’s efforts were “superhuman.”

    “He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,” Bresland said. “And the brave fella thought he’s not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket.”

    Austin said he initially set off for help on an inflatable kayak that was taking water. He abandoned the kayak then took off his life jacket because it impeded his swimming.

    He said he tried to focus on positive thoughts as he swam for around four hours through rough seas for shore, raising the alarm at 6 p.m.

    “The waves are massive and I have no life jacket on. … I just kept thinking ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming,’” Austin said. “And then I finally I made it to shore and I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed.”

    Austin Appelbee poses for a photo in Gidgegannup, Australia, Feb. 3, 2026, after the 13-year-old made an hourslong swim to raise an alarm after his family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast. 

    Briana Shepherd/AP


     “I didn’t think I was a hero,” Austin told the BBC. “I just did what I did.”

    The family, from the state capital Perth, was on vacation and using kayaks and paddle boards hired from their hotel around noon when rough ocean and wind conditions started dragging them out to sea.

    A search helicopter found the mom and two children wearing life jackets and clinging to a paddleboard at 8:30 p.m., police said. They had drifted 14 kilometers (9 miles) from Quindalup in Western Australia state, after spending up to 10 hours in the water.

    “The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough — his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings,” Police Inspector James Bradley said in a statement.

    Joanne Appelbee told reporters on Tuesday she sent her oldest child for help because she could not leave the three children.

    “One of the hardest decisions I ever had to make was to say to Austin: ‘Try and get to shore and get some help. This could get really serious really quickly,’” she told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

    She said she was confident he would reach shore but was filled with doubt as the sun set and help had not arrived.

    “We kept positive, we were singing and we were joking and … we were treating it as a bit of a game until the sun started to go down and that’s when it was getting very choppy. Very big waves,” she said.

    Bresland, the rescue commander, told the ABC the family was treading water in rough seas for hours and the mother managed to keep the other children with the paddleboard.

    “Physically, she just said, ‘I’m struggling, I can’t,’ but she just said they’re looking her in the eye, and she just kept going and kept them together,” Bresland told the ABC.

    The three were all shivering and Beau had lost sensation in his legs because of the cold by the time they were rescued, the mom said.

    “We made it, we’re alive, and that’s the most important thing, and I have all three babies,” Joanne said. “…All three of them made it. That was all that mattered.”

    All four family members were medically assessed but none required hospital admission.

    CORRECTION Australia Swimmer

    This image taken from video shows Austin Appelbee, right, posing with his family in Gidgegannup, Australia, Tuesday Feb. 3, 2026. 

    ABC/AP


    In a social media post, Naturaliste Volunteer Marine Rescue Group praised the family, especially Austin.

    “The bravery, strength, and courage shown by this family were extraordinary, especially the young fella who swam 4km to raise the alarm and set everything into motion,” the group wrote on Facebook.

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  • 13-year-old boy swam for hours to save family swept out to sea off Australian coast


    13-year-old boy swam for hours to save family swept out to sea off Australian coast – CBS News









































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    A 13-year-old boy is credited with saving the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with an hourslong swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

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  • Crews rescue dog from frozen creek in Maryland

    I’M KATE AMARA WBAL TV 11 NEWS. THANK YOU. A CHOCOLATE LAB IS RECOVERING AFTER A BITTER COLD BRUSH WITH DANGER EARLY THIS MORNING. THIS LAB NAMED GIZMO GOT STUCK ON A FROZEN CREEK FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER HE SLID DOWN A HILL WHILE GOING FOR HIS MORNING POTTY BREAK. FIRST RESPONDERS WERE ABLE TO GET GIZMO BACK ON LAND BY USING A SPECIALIZED BASKET. THEY SAY HE WAS HYPOTHERMIC, BUT WAS ABLE TO EAT AND GOT TREATED IN THE AMBULANCE. GIZMO WA

    Crews were called to a frozen creek in Maryland to help rescue a dog that was trapped on the ice. According to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Monday morning, crews from their department, along with the Annapolis Fire Department, were called to Luce Creek for a reported chocolate lab stuck on the ice in Parole, Maryland, which is outside Annapolis and is around 27 miles from Baltimore.Crews arrived at the area and were able to locate the dog. They carefully went on the ice and used a Stokes basket in order to rescue the dog. Officials remind the public that the ice on area waterways is dangerously thin. Stay off the ice and if a person or pet falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue on their own.

    Crews were called to a frozen creek in Maryland to help rescue a dog that was trapped on the ice.

    According to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Monday morning, crews from their department, along with the Annapolis Fire Department, were called to Luce Creek for a reported chocolate lab stuck on the ice in Parole, Maryland, which is outside Annapolis and is around 27 miles from Baltimore.

    Crews arrived at the area and were able to locate the dog. They carefully went on the ice and used a Stokes basket in order to rescue the dog. Officials remind the public that the ice on area waterways is dangerously thin. Stay off the ice and if a person or pet falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue on their own.

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  • Minneapolis woman receives national award for rescuing child at Bde Maka Ska

    A Minneapolis woman is being recognized with a national lifesaving award after rescuing a toddler who slipped into Bde Maka Ska last Mother’s Day.

    Karmen Black, a licensed social worker and Minneapolis resident, received the Heroic Act Award from the United States Lifesaving Association on Monday during a ceremony at Minneapolis Fire Station 5. The award is the highest honor the organization gives to a bystander who is not a lifeguard or first responder.

    The rescue happened while Black was walking around the lake with a friend.

    “I love walking the lake,” Black said. “We had went around once, and then I convinced my friend to, ‘let’s go around a second time.’”

    During the second lap, Black noticed a man walking ahead with his children. One child, she said, was trailing far behind.

    “There was a third child lagging behind. I would say, like 30 yards behind him,” Black said. “And I said, ‘Gosh, he’s pretty far behind his father, especially to be so close to the lake.”

    Moments later, the situation escalated.

    “The little boy turned,” Black said. “He literally turned and saw the water. Eyes lit up, and I said to my friend, ‘No, he’s not going to.’ And he a-lined to the lake and just threw himself.”

    Black said the location made the situation especially dangerous.

    “If the father would have turned and looked down the path, just because of the way of the incline going down to the lake, he would have never known his son was literally over the edge, drowning,” she said.

    Black ran into the water fully clothed and pulled the child out. The boy was reunited with his father moments later and was not seriously hurt.

    Minneapolis Interim Fire Chief Melanie Rucker said Black’s quick action prevented a much more serious emergency.

    “With Carmen’s quick thinking and reaction, that saved a life,” Rucker said. “That saved a rescue that we didn’t even have to respond to.”

    Dr. Ayanna Rakhu, founder of Sankofa Swim International, presented the award and said the rescue highlights how quickly drowning incidents can happen.

    “Drowning happens quickly and it happens silently,” Rakhu said. “Awareness is a big thing.”

    Rakhu said the incident underscores the importance of swim education not just for children, but for adults as well.

    “It’s important for kids and adults, and parents and aunts and uncles to learn how to swim,” she said. “Because we end up in these situations.”

    Black said the experience stayed with her long after the rescue.

    “I was traumatized for like a month,” she said, adding that she goes to the lakes almost every day in the summer.

    Despite the national recognition, Black said she does not see herself as extraordinary.

    “I just feel like this should be normal,” she said. “You would hope that this is just what anybody would do.”

    Nick Lunemann

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  • Good Samaritan helps rescue family from near-death crash on California highway

    A car lost control along California Highway 50 on Christmas morning, leaving its occupants in a life-threatening situation until a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant stepped in to help.SSgt. Ruben Tala, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was traveling with his family through the Sierra corridor shortly after 8 a.m. when he saw an SUV spin out of control.“During that time, I mean, I think it’s the adrenaline kicking in,” Tala said.The SUV was teetering hundreds of feet above the ground. Video shared with sister station KCRA shows Tala gripping the driver’s side door as the vehicle dangled over the edge.“I thought about my wife and my daughter. What if there’s a family in that car? Somebody has to help,” Tala told KCRA.As Tala worked to stabilize the situation, other good Samaritans stopped and joined the rescue effort. Together, they were able to help the driver and his wife reach safety. The woman was visibly shaken and clutching the couple’s two dogs.Highway 50 is known for hazardous winter driving conditions, particularly during storms, when snow and ice can make the roadway treacherous even for experienced drivers.Tala said the gratitude from the family left a lasting impression. One detail, he added, stood out to him afterward.“It’s funny too, because one of their dog’s names is Luna, which is my daughter’s name,” he said. “I was like, how’s that a coincidence, right?”Tala and his wife, Yvett, share a 22-month-old daughter and were on their way to the snow for the holiday when the crash unfolded.”SSgt Tala and Yvett’s quick action and courage are a direct reflection of our Core Value of Service Before Self,” Lt. Col. Jason Christie, 60th Force Support Squadron commander, said in a statement.”We’re so proud to have them as our teammates and witness them ready to help anyone in need.”

    A car lost control along California Highway 50 on Christmas morning, leaving its occupants in a life-threatening situation until a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant stepped in to help.

    SSgt. Ruben Tala, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was traveling with his family through the Sierra corridor shortly after 8 a.m. when he saw an SUV spin out of control.

    “During that time, I mean, I think it’s the adrenaline kicking in,” Tala said.

    The SUV was teetering hundreds of feet above the ground. Video shared with sister station KCRA shows Tala gripping the driver’s side door as the vehicle dangled over the edge.

    “I thought about my wife and my daughter. What if there’s a family in that car? Somebody has to help,” Tala told KCRA.

    As Tala worked to stabilize the situation, other good Samaritans stopped and joined the rescue effort. Together, they were able to help the driver and his wife reach safety. The woman was visibly shaken and clutching the couple’s two dogs.

    Highway 50 is known for hazardous winter driving conditions, particularly during storms, when snow and ice can make the roadway treacherous even for experienced drivers.

    Tala said the gratitude from the family left a lasting impression. One detail, he added, stood out to him afterward.

    “It’s funny too, because one of their dog’s names is Luna, which is my daughter’s name,” he said. “I was like, how’s that a coincidence, right?”

    Tala and his wife, Yvett, share a 22-month-old daughter and were on their way to the snow for the holiday when the crash unfolded.

    “SSgt Tala and Yvett’s quick action and courage are a direct reflection of our Core Value of Service Before Self,” Lt. Col. Jason Christie, 60th Force Support Squadron commander, said in a statement.”We’re so proud to have them as our teammates and witness them ready to help anyone in need.”

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  • WATCH: Dramatic video shows drone dropping life jacket to man stranded on a vehicle in floodwaters

    WATCH: Dramatic video shows drone dropping life jacket to man stranded on a vehicle in floodwaters

    Updated: 9:32 PM EST Dec 12, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The state of Washington saw intense flooding this week as a powerful atmospheric river brought massive amounts of rain to western portions of the state, dumping the rain over several days and causing rivers to swell to dangerous levels.The severe weather prompted evacuations and dramatic rescues, some of which were caught on camera.In King County, the county sheriff’s office shared video of a deputy using a drone to give a life jacket to a man who was stuck on a car’s roof as Snoqualmie River floodwaters rose.A second video released by the King County Sheriff’s Office shows the eventual rescue of the man via a helicopter from NAS Whidbey Island.King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Manager Brandyn Hull said this was the first time that drone pilots had ever delivered a life jacket to a person, according to CNN.In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office commended the deputy for using modern technology to save a life.”Another case of a deputy going above and beyond,” the sheriff’s office said in posting the social media post. See video of the drone dropping the life jacket in the player above.__CNN contributed to this report.

    (Video: King County Sheriff’s Office via CNN Newsource) —

    The state of Washington saw intense flooding this week as a powerful atmospheric river brought massive amounts of rain to western portions of the state, dumping the rain over several days and causing rivers to swell to dangerous levels.

    The severe weather prompted evacuations and dramatic rescues, some of which were caught on camera.

    In King County, the county sheriff’s office shared video of a deputy using a drone to give a life jacket to a man who was stuck on a car’s roof as Snoqualmie River floodwaters rose.

    A second video released by the King County Sheriff’s Office shows the eventual rescue of the man via a helicopter from =AZbptF3J2Ol50X3eDD4ePTMHHex2pkOgnt-FNSv5nKr4j5X1dvu9B-lyR3Y3bs0aKc0i_8FQuaFBSDE0n9Jpw-zZgnG4OKB_TOMbQhkiHtEhcje3N_A44riOjATvIE1yWRvqHAyW-7_WzUggVRkFb9btExC1BQa9_QV4wTy8MDBlcp81P4oAQUc-Cl_lwokE41tquLdHzj14KICqDDwL8R-E&__tn__=-]K-R” role=”link” tabindex=”0″>NAS Whidbey Island.

    King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Manager Brandyn Hull said this was the first time that drone pilots had ever delivered a life jacket to a person, according to CNN.

    In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office commended the deputy for using modern technology to save a life.

    “Another case of a deputy going above and beyond,” the sheriff’s office said in posting the social media post.

    See video of the drone dropping the life jacket in the player above.

    __
    CNN contributed to this report.

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  • Death toll from floods, landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island rises to 164

    The death toll from flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island rose to 164 on Friday, with 79 people missing, authorities said.Rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment.The death toll in North Sumatra province rose to 116, while 25 people died in Aceh. Rescuers also retrieved 23 bodies in West Sumatra, National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s Chief Suharyanto said.A tropical cyclone is expected to continue hitting the Southeast Asian nation for days, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency reported.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment Friday after flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island left 82 people dead and dozens missing.A tropical cyclone is expected to continue hitting the Southeast Asian nation for days, said Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency.Monsoon rains caused rivers to burst their banks in North Sumatra province Tuesday. The deluge tore through mountainside villages, swept away people and submerged more than 3,200 houses and buildings, the National Disaster Management Agency said. About 3,000 displaced families fled to government shelters.Elsewhere in the island’s provinces of Aceh and West Sumatra, thousands of houses were flooded, many up to their roofs, the agency said.The death toll in North Sumatra province rose to 55 as rescue teams struggled to reach affected areas in 12 cities and districts of North Sumatra province, said the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesperson, Abdul Muhari. He revised the number of people still missing in the province to 41 from the initial report of 88 following a coordination meeting with local authorities Friday.Mudslides that covered much of the area, power blackouts and a lack of telecommunications were hampering the search efforts, said Ferry Wulantukan, spokesperson for North Sumatra regional police.In West Sumatra province, flash floods that struck 15 cities and districts left at least 21 people dead, Muhari said, citing data reported by West Sumatra’s vice governor. The number of people still missing was unclear.West Sumatra’s disaster mitigation agency reported that the flooding submerged more than 17,000 homes, forcing about 23,000 residents to flee to temporary shelters. Rice fields, livestock and public facilities were also destroyed, and bridges and roads cut off by floods and landslides isolated residents.In Aceh province, authorities struggled to bring excavators and other heavy equipment over washed-out roads after torrential rains sent mud and rocks crashing onto the hilly hamlets. At least six people have died and 11 were missing in three villages in Central Aceh district.The extreme weather was driven by Tropical Cyclone Senyar, which formed in the Strait of Malacca, said Achadi Subarkah Raharjo at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency.He warned that unstable atmospheric conditions mean extreme weather could persist as long as the cyclone system remains active.“We have extended its extreme weather warning due to strong water vapor supply and shifting atmospheric dynamics,” Raharjo said.Senyar intensified rainfall, strong winds, and high waves in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and nearby areas before dissipating. Its prolonged downpours left steep, saturated terrains highly vulnerable to disasters, he said.Seasonal rains frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.____Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.

    PADANG, Indonesia —

    The death toll from flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island rose to 164 on Friday, with 79 people missing, authorities said.

    Rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment.

    The death toll in North Sumatra province rose to 116, while 25 people died in Aceh. Rescuers also retrieved 23 bodies in West Sumatra, National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s Chief Suharyanto said.

    A tropical cyclone is expected to continue hitting the Southeast Asian nation for days, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency reported.

    THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

    Rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment Friday after flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sumatra island left 82 people dead and dozens missing.

    A tropical cyclone is expected to continue hitting the Southeast Asian nation for days, said Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency.

    Monsoon rains caused rivers to burst their banks in North Sumatra province Tuesday. The deluge tore through mountainside villages, swept away people and submerged more than 3,200 houses and buildings, the National Disaster Management Agency said. About 3,000 displaced families fled to government shelters.

    Elsewhere in the island’s provinces of Aceh and West Sumatra, thousands of houses were flooded, many up to their roofs, the agency said.

    The death toll in North Sumatra province rose to 55 as rescue teams struggled to reach affected areas in 12 cities and districts of North Sumatra province, said the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesperson, Abdul Muhari. He revised the number of people still missing in the province to 41 from the initial report of 88 following a coordination meeting with local authorities Friday.

    Mudslides that covered much of the area, power blackouts and a lack of telecommunications were hampering the search efforts, said Ferry Wulantukan, spokesperson for North Sumatra regional police.

    In West Sumatra province, flash floods that struck 15 cities and districts left at least 21 people dead, Muhari said, citing data reported by West Sumatra’s vice governor. The number of people still missing was unclear.

    West Sumatra’s disaster mitigation agency reported that the flooding submerged more than 17,000 homes, forcing about 23,000 residents to flee to temporary shelters. Rice fields, livestock and public facilities were also destroyed, and bridges and roads cut off by floods and landslides isolated residents.

    In Aceh province, authorities struggled to bring excavators and other heavy equipment over washed-out roads after torrential rains sent mud and rocks crashing onto the hilly hamlets. At least six people have died and 11 were missing in three villages in Central Aceh district.

    The extreme weather was driven by Tropical Cyclone Senyar, which formed in the Strait of Malacca, said Achadi Subarkah Raharjo at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency.

    He warned that unstable atmospheric conditions mean extreme weather could persist as long as the cyclone system remains active.

    “We have extended its extreme weather warning due to strong water vapor supply and shifting atmospheric dynamics,” Raharjo said.

    Senyar intensified rainfall, strong winds, and high waves in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and nearby areas before dissipating. Its prolonged downpours left steep, saturated terrains highly vulnerable to disasters, he said.

    Seasonal rains frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.

    ____

    Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.


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  • Hong Kong fire: Death toll rises to 94 amid final push to find survivors

    The death toll in the Hong Kong apartment complex fire has risen to 94, with dozens still missing, as firefighters make a final push to find survivors on the third day of the blaze.

    Deputy director of the Hong Kong Fire Services, Derek Armstrong Chan, told the Associated Press that crews were prioritizing apartments in the seven high-rise buildings where they had received multiple calls for help during the fire but hadn’t been able to reach them immediately.

    Why It Matters

    The fire is the deadliest to strike the former British colony in more than 70 years. The death toll is more than double that of the 1996 Kowloon fire, which struck a commercial building, killing 41 people. However, the worst fire in Hong Kong’s history remains the 1918 Happy Valley Fire, which killed over 600 people, and the 1948 warehouse fire that resulted in 176 deaths.

    A special investigation team has now been established to determine the cause of the fire, Chief Executive John Lee said.

    What To Know

    Hundreds of people have now been evacuated from the Wang Fuk Court apartments, in the Tai Po district, located in a suburban area in the New Territories, with around 900 sent to temporary shelters overnight.

    At least 94 have been confirmed dead, with more than 70 people injured, including 11 firefighters. Hong Kong leader John Lee previously said that 279 people were missing early Thursday after authorities lost contact. There have been no updated figures on how many remain missing.

    The final search of the buildings will be completed Friday, at which point crews will officially end the rescue phase.

    “Our firefighting operation is almost complete,” Chan said.

    Chan said that the fire had spread “exceptionally fast” while falling bamboo scaffolding and debris made it difficult for emergency vehicles and firefighters to reach those trapped by the blaze. More than 1,000 firefighters were brought in to tackle the blaze, and even now, the buildings continue to smoke from small flare-ups.

    Three men, between the ages of 52 and 68, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire. They included two directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company, which has not been named.

    “We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said Eileen Chung, a senior superintendent of police.

    Police on Thursday also searched the office of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company—the firm in charge of renovations for the apartment complex—and seized multiple boxes of documents. AP’s calls for comment went unanswered on Thursday.

    Authorities suspected some materials used on the exterior walls did not meet fire safety standards, which may have accelerated the spread of the fire. The building, which was undergoing renovations, was also surrounded by bamboo scaffolding. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has now launched a corruption probe into the renovation project.

    Deadly fire likely to accelerate ending use of iconic bamboo as scaffolding

    The housing complex, built in the 1980s, was undergoing a major renovation and was covered in bamboo scaffolding when it caught fire on Wednesday. Officials said the blaze started on the external scaffolding and quickly spread across the bamboo and construction netting to the inside of the building, before spreading to the other buildings. In all, seven of the eight 32-story towers, which include around 2,000 apartments for about 4,800 residents, went up in flames,

    City officials have already been planning a shift from the 1000-year-old bamboo construction technique to metal scaffolding in public works. The tragic fire, which has already claimed dozens of lives, is only likely to accelerate that shift.

    Eric Chan, the Chief Secretary for Administration, told AP that the traditional bamboo was inferior to metal for fire safety.

    “While we know that bamboo scaffolding has a long history in Hong Kong, its flame retardancy is inferior to that of metal scaffolding. For safety reasons, the government believes that a complete switch to metal scaffolding should be implemented in suitable working environments,” he said.

    Hong Kong authorities have also launched immediate reviews of other housing estates in the city, undergoing renovation work, to ensure the buildings and scaffolding meet safety protocols.

    What People Are Saying

    Deputy director Chan said, “We will endeavor to force entry into all the units of the seven blocks concerned so as to ensure that there is no other possible casualties.”

    Resident Lawrence Lee, waiting in one of the shelters where evacuated residents gathered overnight, told the Associated Press his wife was trapped in their apartment: “When the fire started, I told her on the phone to es cape. But once she left the flat, the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark, so she had no choice but to go back to the flat.”

    A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) told the South China Morning Post: “In view of the immense public interest involved, the ICAC today set up a task force to launch a full investigation into possible corruption in the grand renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.” 

    What Happens Next

    The death toll is likely to rise. Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze.

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  • Two men rescued from restricted cave system in Crosby Farm Regional Park


    A man was rescued from a restricted cave area in Crosby Farm Regional Park late Friday night, according to the St. Paul Fire Department.

    The fire department was called to the area around 11:30 p.m. for an emergency involving two young men who were trying to explore the cave system. The pair were able to gain access through a breach at the top of a concreate barrier at the cave’s opening. According to the fire department, the breach was about 10-12 feet above the ground. 

    The two men used rope to lower themselves to the cave floor, according to the fire department. During the attempt, one of the men feel approximately 25 feet, injuring himself in the process. The second man remained with the injured person until 911 was contacted. 

    After arriving on scene, fire crews used ground ladders to locate the victims. 

    Two rescuers entered the cave through the same breach and began a medical assessment. Crews outside the cave worked to make the breach larger so the two men could get out. 

    WCCO


    The injured man was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. 

    After getting the two men out of the cave system, rescue crews remained on scene to confirm there was no one else. 

    The St. Paul Fire Department says the caves are sealed within city parks for safety reasons. 

    Chloe Rosen

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  • Kids who got trapped in elevator reunite with firefighters who rescued them

    What should have been a quick trip down to the lobby of an Atlanta apartment building turned into an hourslong ordeal for two cousins, ages 13 and 11. Skyler Henry reports they had a chance to thank the first responders who came to their rescue.

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  • Robot rescues Ukrainian soldier trapped 33 days behind Russian lines, navigating minefields and mortar strikes

    Ukrainian forces managed to rescue one of their own recently — a wounded soldier trapped for 33 days behind enemy lines — by sending a casket-shaped, off-road robot to navigate a perilous route dodging landmines and drone attacks to retrieve him.

    After six failed rescue attempts, the 1st Medical Battalion of the Ukrainian Ground Forces managed to rescue the soldier from Russian-occupied territory in the east of the country. 

    The remotely operated robot, which looks like an armored casket mounted on an ATV frame and wheels, traveled a total of about 40 miles for the mission — almost 23 of them with a damaged wheel after it struck a landmine. The mission took just under six hours, according to the battalion, which shared a video of the operation on social media this week.

    “We received a request from an adjacent unit to try to evacuate their soldier,” the medical battalion’s head of communications Volodymyr Koval told CBS News on Friday. “They had already made four attempts on their own, but they were unsuccessful. They turned to us because we had the appropriate capabilities.”

    The MAUL ground drone, designed by the 1st Medical Battalion of the Ukrainian Ground Forces for troop extraction, is seen in a photo provided by the battalion.

    Handout/Ukrainian Ground Forces


    The most important of those capabilities was the robot, a MAUL ground drone originally developed by the medical battalion precisely for the purpose of extracting wounded or trapped soldiers.

    “The soldier’s location was known, there was contact with him, food was being sent to him from the air — logistics were carried out by aerial drones. We began to develop a plan for his evacuation and study the route,” Koval told CBS News. “Two attempts were unsuccessful due to enemy mines and drones waiting on the ground in ambush on the roads. The seventh mission was successful, despite the fact that the drone hit an anti-personnel mine.”

    The robot reached the soldier, who climbed into the personnel capsule, laid down and closed himself inside. But the rolling rescue unit then came under attack by a Russian drone on its way back toward the battle line. The soldier survived thanks to the armored capsule. 

    maul-ukraine-drone-extraction.jpg

    A view from a camera on board a MAUL ground drone shows an explosion in front of the vehicle during a mission to extract a wounded Ukrainian soldier from Russian-occupied territory, as shared by the Ukrainian Ground Forces 1st Medical Battalion.

    Handout/Ukrainian Ground Forces 1st Medical Battalion


    Military medics provided first aid and stabilized the soldier as soon as the robot reached Ukrainian-controlled territory. 

    “The wounded warrior is now undergoing treatment and rehabilitation. His life has been saved,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement Thursday evening. He lauded the troops of the 1st Medical Battalion for the operation, stressing the importance of such lifesaving missions and battlefield innovations.

    “We will scale up exactly this kind of technological backbone for our army — more ground robotic systems operating at the front, more drones of all types, and increased deliveries of modern solutions that help achieve results in combat, in providing supplies for our combat units, and in evacuating our wounded warriors,” Zelenskyy said.

    Koval told CBS News it was not the first and would likely not be the last ground-based drone evacuation carried out by the battalion.

    “This is simply a special story of perseverance that carries an important message for the military and society. We are actively trying to implement unmanned evacuation from the battlefield, directly from the line of combat contact. This is the main task of our unit,” he said. “Evacuation is now very difficult due to the high density of fire, which is visible in the video. But every Ukrainian soldier must know that they will fight for him, that they will try to save him. This is what we wanted to show by telling this story.”

    ukraine-drone-rescue.jpg

    A wounded Ukrainian soldier is assisted by fellow troops after being extracted from Russian-occupied territory by the Ukrainian Ground Forces’ 1st Medical Battalion using a MAUL ground drone, in an image taken from video shared by the battalion on  Nov. 4, 2025. 

    Handout/Ukrainian Ground Forces


    The MAUL robot used in the operation was originally designed by the 1st Medical Battalion, but is now made and sold by Ukrainian defense company DevDroid, which bought the license to the design.

    According to the battalion, the MAUL robot “is an evacuation platform powered by an internal combustion engine, which allows it to reach speeds of up to 70 kph (43 mph). It has a special armored capsule to protect the wounded and special metal wheels that do not contain air.”

    The units are now sold by DevDroid for about $19,000 each.

    Earlier this year, the Ukrainian National Guard’s 13th Khartia Brigade used a Zmiy-500 ground drone, a simpler robot that offers less protection to the person riding it, to evacuate a wounded soldier while simultaneously delivering supplies to the front line, according to a social media post by the brigade.

    The drone covered more than 20 miles and completed the operation without incident, the brigade said.

    Joanne Stocker

    contributed to this report.

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  • 6.3 magnitude earthquake kills at least 10 people in Afghanistan

    Hey. I love.

    A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 260 others, an Afghan health official said.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake’s epicenter was located 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of Khulm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles). It struck at 12:59 a.m. Monday local time, the USGS said.Video above: Earthquake destroys villages in eastern AfghanistanSharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said at least 10 people died and 260 were injured in the earthquake.Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s disaster management agency, said most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were discharged after receiving initial treatment.In Kabul, the Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency aid teams have reached the areas affected by last night’s earthquake in the provinces of Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the most damage, and have begun rescue operations, including transporting the injured and assisting affected families.According to the Afghan officials, the earthquake was also felt in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province.In Mazar-e-Sharif, footage on social media showed that the earthquake caused some damage to the historic Blue Mosque. Several bricks fell from the walls, but the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old site is one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious landmarks and a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals.The quake was felt in the capital, Kabul, and several other provinces in Afghanistan. The Defense Ministry, in a statement, said pieces of rock falling from the mountains briefly blocked a main highway linking Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. It said some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were transported to the hospital.Afghanistan has been rattled by a series of earthquakes in recent years and the impoverished country often faces difficulty in responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote regions.Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.A magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Aug. 31, 2025, in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan killed more than 2,200 people. On Oct. 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government.

    KABUL, Kabul —

    A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 260 others, an Afghan health official said.

    According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake’s epicenter was located 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of Khulm, Afghanistan, at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles). It struck at 12:59 a.m. Monday local time, the USGS said.

    Video above: Earthquake destroys villages in eastern Afghanistan

    Sharafat Zaman, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said at least 10 people died and 260 were injured in the earthquake.

    Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s disaster management agency, said most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were discharged after receiving initial treatment.

    In Kabul, the Ministry of Defense announced that rescue and emergency aid teams have reached the areas affected by last night’s earthquake in the provinces of Balkh and Samangan, which suffered the most damage, and have begun rescue operations, including transporting the injured and assisting affected families.

    According to the Afghan officials, the earthquake was also felt in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province.

    In Mazar-e-Sharif, footage on social media showed that the earthquake caused some damage to the historic Blue Mosque. Several bricks fell from the walls, but the mosque remained intact. The centuries-old site is one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious landmarks and a major gathering place during Islamic and cultural festivals.

    The quake was felt in the capital, Kabul, and several other provinces in Afghanistan. The Defense Ministry, in a statement, said pieces of rock falling from the mountains briefly blocked a main highway linking Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif, but the road was later reopened. It said some people who were injured and trapped along the highway were transported to the hospital.

    Afghanistan has been rattled by a series of earthquakes in recent years and the impoverished country often faces difficulty in responding to such natural disasters, especially in remote regions.

    Buildings in Afghanistan tend to be low-rise constructions, mostly of concrete and brick, with homes in rural and outlying areas made from mud bricks and wood. Many are poorly built.

    A magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Aug. 31, 2025, in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan killed more than 2,200 people. On Oct. 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 quake followed by strong aftershocks left at least 4,000 people dead, according to the Taliban government.

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  • How Tiny Drones Inspired by Bats Could Save Lives in Dark and Stormy Conditions

    Don’t be fooled by the fog machine, spooky lights and fake bats: the robotics lab at Worcester Polytechnic Institute lab isn’t hosting a Halloween party.

    Instead, it’s a testing ground for tiny drones that can be deployed in search and rescue missions even in dark, smoky or stormy conditions.

    “We all know that when there’s an earthquake or a tsunami, the first thing that goes down is power lines. A lot of times, it’s at night, and you’re not going to wait until the next morning to go and rescue survivors,” said Nitin Sanket, assistant professor of robotics engineering. “So we started looking at nature. Is there a creature in the world which can actually do this?”

    Sanket and his students found their answer in bats and the winged mammal’s highly sophisticated ability to echolocate, or navigate via reflected sound. With a National Science Foundation grant, they’re developing small, inexpensive and energy-efficient aerial robots that can be flown where and when current drones can’t operate.

    Last month, emergency workers in Pakistan used drones to find people stranded on rooftops by massive floods. In August, a rescue team used a drone to find a California man who got trapped for two days behind a waterfall. And in July, drones helped find a stable route to three mine workers who spent more than 60 hours trapped underground in Canada.

    But while drones are becoming more common in search and rescue, Sanket and researchers elsewhere want to move beyond the manually operated individual robots being used today. A key next step is developing aerial robots that can be deployed in swarms and make their own decisions about where to search, said Ryan Williams, an associate professor at Virginia Tech.

    “That type of deployment — autonomous drones — that is effectively nil,” he said.

    Williams tackled that problem with a recent project that involved programming drones to choose search trajectories in coordination with human searchers. Among other things, his team used historical data from thousands of missing person cases to create a model predicting how someone would behave if lost in the woods.

    “And then we used that model to better localize our drones, to search in locations with higher chances of finding someone,” he said.

    At WPI, Sanket’s project addresses other limitations of current drones, including their size and perception capabilities.

    “Current robots are big, bulky, expensive and cannot work in all sorts of scenarios,” he said.

    By contrast, his drone fits in the palm of his hand, is made mostly from inexpensive hobby-grade materials and can operate in the dark. A small ultrasonic sensor, not unlike those used in automatic faucets in public restrooms, mimics bat behavior, sending out a pulse of high-frequency sound and using the echo to detect obstacles in its path.

    During a recent demonstration, a student used a remote control to launch the drone in a brightly lit room and then again after turning off all but a faintly glowing red light. As it approached a clear, Plexiglas wall, the drone repeatedly halted and backed away, even with the lights off and with fog and fake snow swirling through the air.

    “Currently, search and rescue robots are mainly operational in broad daylight,” Sanket said. “The problem is that search and rescues are dull, dangerous and dirty jobs that happen a lot of times in darkness.”

    But development didn’t go completely smoothly. The researchers realized that the noise of the bat robot’s propellers interfered with the ultrasound, requiring 3D printed shells to minimize the interference. They also used artificial intelligence to teach the drone how to filter and interpret sound signals.

    Still, there’s a long way to go to match bats, which can contract and compress their muscles to listen only to certain echoes and can detect something as small as a human hair from several meters away.

    “Bats are amazing,” Sanket said. “We are nowhere close to what nature has achieved. But the goal is that one day in the future, we will be there and these will be useful for deployment in the wild.”

    Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 

    Associated Press

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  • ‘It’s raining squirrels’: Rock Hill rescue tops nearly four dozen squirrels

    Fort Mill

    Spicy Jane is a real nut.

    The baby squirrel races around her enclosure, jumping on her adoptive squirrel brother Cyrus, who is a wee bit older. If you open her enclosure, she will jump on you.

    The young squirrels are among 45 at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill, S.C. Three women and a host of volunteers rehabilitate squirrels that have fallen from trees, become orphans or have been injured. Once they are old enough, the co-founders release them into the wild when they are roughly five months old. The rescue takes in squirrels mainly in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.

    The rescue started after Rhiannon Story, Katherine Rigby and Juli Emmons each raised the squirrels that were either injured or newly born and without their mothers. They started the rescue in May even though they did not yet have any squirrels.

    By fall, they almost had more than they could handle.

    “It’s exploded,” Story said. “It’s raining squirrels.”

    All of the women have worked with other animal rescue groups and wanted to volunteer but realized there weren’t enough squirrel rescues.

    “We were getting babies left and right and there was only so much we could do,” Story said. “So we thought if we started a rescue and maybe we’d be able to get community support and we would be able to get volunteers to help.”

    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill.
    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    The stories of the squirrels in rescue

    The women know the stories of how some of the squirrels made it to their doorsteps.

    Titus, a baby squirrel, showed up at the hospital in Lancaster, and peered through the window as though he was looking for help, Rigby said.

    The baby squirrel had possibly fallen out of its nest from one of the trees beside the Medical University of South Carolina. A Good Samaritan tried to find the mother squirrel in the wooded area beside the hospital, but could not find her.

    Tree trimmers found a couple of baby squirrels after they chopped down a branch with the nest in it. A hawk or owl possibly took a baby squirrel’s mother after she went missing.

    The co-founders know everything squirrel-related.

    They know squirrels need calcium in their diets and that they can be trained to use a litter box. They also know nuts are only to be used as treats, instead of staples in their diets.

    “The first thing everybody always wants to do is feed them nuts,” Rigby said. “And nuts to squirrels is like a Snickers to a human, so nuts are like candy bars to them.”

    Their diet consists of rodent food high in calcium and a host of fresh vegetables like zucchini, kale, romaine lettuce and others. They also like to nibble on deer antlers that contain calcium and because it helps keep their teeth filed.

    Rigby said she follows people on TikTok who raise squirrels and talk about their care. She also follows reputable squirrel websites to learn how to care for them.

    Two squirrels play in an enclosure at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue.
    Two squirrels play in an enclosure at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Learning how to be a squirrel

    Rigby has even started a “squirrel school” where she helps them practice jumping.

    “You need them to be really strong jumpers, so that they can jump tree to tree,” she said.

    When the squirrels reach about four months old, they will go outside to the pre-release enclosure where they become acclimated to the smells and sounds of the outdoors.

    Part of squirrel school is to observe wild squirrels in their habitats.

    “They are very smart,” Rigby said. “I know it sounds crazy, but they do watch other squirrels and they learn.”

    Once they have been in the pre-release cage for a few weeks, they are released into the wild at 16-20 weeks old. The co-founders and volunteers will release them into their backyards and other properties.

    “We are the only ones that truly interact with them once they get bigger,” Story said. “Because you want them to go outside and actually wild-up and not come to people.”

    Rhiannon Story holds a days-old squirrel at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue in early October
    Rhiannon Story holds a days-old squirrel at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue in early October TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    That doesn’t stop them from visiting their former caregivers, who give them nutty treats.

    Not all of the squirrels can be rehabilitated.

    One such squirrel has Type 2 diabetes. The co-founders realized something was wrong when the squirrel allowed people to pet him and was rapidly gaining weight.

    “His name is Chubs for a reason,” Story said. “He’s a thick, healthy boy.”

    The women try to find the squirrels’ mothers before taking them in, Story said.

    They will put the babies in a box and attach it to a tree and play squirrel sounds on their phones. Many times, the mother will come get them.

    The co-founders said they feel like they are doing something important.

    “The first time they climb those trees, it’s an indescribable feeling,” said Story, who has been called The Crazy Squirrel Lady. “You can see the job on their faces and that right there lets me know that I did something that was great, even if you know it matters only to one squirrel, it still matters.”

    To donate or volunteer, visit nuttybynaturerescue.com.

    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill.
    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill.
    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill.
    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Two squirrels play in an enclosure at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue.
    Two squirrels play in an enclosure at the Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill.
    Katherine Rigby interacts with a squirrel in an enclosure at her Fort Mill home earlier this month. Rigby is a co-founder of Nutty By Nature Squirrel Rescue based in Rock Hill. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 8:56 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Tracy Kimball

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  • ‘Maine Coon’ Cats In Neglect Case Looking For Loving Homes – KXL

    Expo, pictured above, needed surgery to remove a painful, infected eye.

    PORTLAND, OR – The Oregon Humane Society is beginning the process of putting up for adoption a large group of cats rescued from neglect by Washington County Animal Services.  More than 30 cats, mostly Maine Coon, and two birds, were transferred to Oregon Humane Society after their, and the animals have been receiving extensive medical and behavior care since.

    Many of the cats were suffering from eye infections and skin issues that required surgery, medication, and other care.  The most fearful cat, Wesley, is receiving specialized care in OHS’ Behavior Modification Program.

    Recently, the suspect in this case pled guilty to 10 counts of Animal Neglect in the First Degree, and one count of Animal Neglect in the Second Degree.  The resolution of the case allows the cats and birds to go up for adoption.

    Hagrid is one of many Maine Coon cats up for adoption at the OHS Portland campus following their rescue in a Washington County neglect case.

    “This outcome is the culmination of an intense investigation by Washington County Animal Services into the neglect of these animals,” says Randy Covey, Manager, Washington County Animal Services. “We’re grateful for the partnerships we have with the Sheriff’s Office who assisted with the search warrant and OHS who provided invaluable long-term care and housing after our initial seizure, exams and evidence documentation.”

    “Caring for these cats and birds, and meeting their needs over the past four months, has required a lot of resources including assistance from our incredible foster parents,” says Dr. Steve Kochis, OHS Chief Medical Officer and Co-Interim CEO. “Costs from this case alone have exceeded $100,000. We simply cannot do this work without support from our donors.”

    Cats who are ready for adoption will be posted on OHS’ website.   Officials note that these cats are only at the OHS Portland Campus.

    All adoptions include up-to-date vaccines, spay/neuter service, microchipping, and a free exam at the OHS Community Veterinary Hospital in Portland.

    More about:

    Tim Lantz

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  • Stray cat starts following woman night after night—tears at what unfolds

    After following a woman at the park for over a week, a stray cat finally managed to get her to adopt him—now he has a warm home and a mom who loves him. 

    In a viral Reddit post shared on Saturday under the username u/Evanessa_r the poster says that the tabby tuxedo stalked her on her evening walks for over a week trying to befriend her. “I often go for walks in the park in the evenings, and this stray cat started coming to me every day at exactly 8 p.m.” she wrote in the caption. 

    “Our friendship lasted for over a week until one evening the weather was bad and raining, but I decided to go check on my friend anyway, and this sweet little bundle of joy was sitting all wet under the bench, waiting for me.  

    “From that day on, she became family. As Dominic Toretto said, ‘I don’t have friends, I got family,’” she added. 

    Loading reddit content…

    The post also features some pictures of the poster holding the kitty while sitting on a bench in the park, with the feline leaning his head on her chest, as if he knows that he is safe around her. 

    “The journey of a stray cat who came to me in the park and walked with me for over a week to a domestic cat surrounded by love,” the poster said.  

    We all know that it is cats who choose their owners, and not the other way around. But what makes felines pick one person over another? 

    Experts say that cats choose their favorite human based on who invests the most effort in understanding and communicating with them.  

    According to Union Lake Veterinary Hospital, felines prefer those who pay attention to their cues, motives, and needs.  

    Their choice is also influenced by personality and breed. Calm cats often favor quiet people, while energetic ones usually seek playful companions.  

    Building a stronger bond with your feline involves time, attention, and communication. Spending time together, matching their interests, talking to them, and offering regular affection through petting or play helps strengthen the relationship.  

    The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 9,000 upvotes and 143 comments on the platform. 

    One user, Minsc_NBoo, commented: “I think I’ve got something in my eye. She was so desperate to find her person, and now she has a forever home. The last picture really shows pure love in her eyes.” 

    Cabitaa posted: “The fact that she was waiting for you in the rain. You guys are so lucky you found each other!” 

    Xtunamilk added: “Poor little thing looks like a lost or abandoned pet and must’ve been so cold and lonely out there. I’m glad you found each other and you took the little one in!” 

    Newsweek reached out to u/Evanessa_r for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.    

    Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.  

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  • One Dead After Surf Rescue On Oregon Coast – KXL

    Photo Courtesy: North Lincoln Fire & Rescue

    LINCOLN CITY, Ore. – A person died Sunday afternoon after being swept out to sea near the mouth of Siletz Bay, according to North Lincoln Fire & Rescue.

    Emergency crews were dispatched around 3:40 p.m. after 911 callers reported someone caught in a strong current and unable to return to shore. Rescue teams from NLFR arrived within minutes and launched two jet skis to search for the victim.

    The U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search with two lifeboats and a helicopter. Lincoln City police deployed a drone to aid in the effort, while the Depoe Bay Fire District provided additional support on scene.

    Despite the rapid and coordinated response, the individual was found and pronounced dead. The Oregon State Police is leading the investigation.

    In a statement, NLFR extended condolences to the victim’s family and reminded the public to use extreme caution near the ocean.

    “Sneaker waves can strike without warning,” the agency said. “Never turn your back on the ocean. If the sand is wet, the water has already reached that point.”

    More about:

    Grant McHill

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  • ‘He was a hero that day’: Off-duty firefighter helps to put out garage fire in Cameron Park home

    A Cameron Park family says they are grateful for their neighbor, a firefighter, who helped them after their house caught on fire.The fire broke out on Monday morning in the garage of Cohl Weissmann’s Cameron Park home. Weissmann said he and his brother were asleep when the fire alarm went off.”It started smoking, like going through the hallway. I started coughing. I yelled at my brother. He got up, started running,” Wiessmann said. “We ran out and we were half awake, so we were kind of like panicking.”But, he said, they made it outside safely with their cat. That’s when help found them. “Luckily, there is a guy off duty that was on his way to work. He came in to, like, kind of guide us,” Weissmann said. “He was like, grab your hose. My brother ran and grabbed the hose.” Their neighbor, Jamesley Giblin, a firefighter with Cal Fire AEU’s Ponderosa Fire Crew, was on his way to work when he noticed the smoke. “I just saw smoke in the middle of the morning and it just kept getting thicker and thicker,” Giblin said. “I was worried about the people inside. So, I wanted to go in and check them out and make sure they’re all good.”Giblin made sure everyone was out safely and then used the garden hose to put out the flames. “I’m glad that hose worked and knocked it out,” he said. Shortly after Giblin put the flames out, more crews arrived. “It only takes about five minutes to have the full garage be covered in smoke, where you can’t see anything in the fire to move quickly. So, if he wouldn’t have knocked it down by the time the engine got there, it could have been extended into the house or could have gotten everything inside the garage,” Ty Day, Captain of the Ponderosa Fire Center, said.The family expressed their gratitude for Giblin’s quick actions.”God bless him. Yeah, he was a hero that day.” Weissmann said. “I’m beyond blessed.”While the fire was contained to the garage, the family says a lot of the house has smoke damage. It’s still unclear what caused the fire. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    CAMERON PARK, Calif. —

    A Cameron Park family says they are grateful for their neighbor, a firefighter, who helped them after their house caught on fire.

    The fire broke out on Monday morning in the garage of Cohl Weissmann’s Cameron Park home. Weissmann said he and his brother were asleep when the fire alarm went off.

    “It started smoking, like going through the hallway. I started coughing. I yelled at my brother. He got up, started running,” Wiessmann said. “We ran out and we were half awake, so we were kind of like panicking.”

    But, he said, they made it outside safely with their cat. That’s when help found them.

    “Luckily, there is a guy off duty that was on his way to work. He came in to, like, kind of guide us,” Weissmann said. “He was like, grab your hose. My brother ran and grabbed the hose.”

    Their neighbor, Jamesley Giblin, a firefighter with Cal Fire AEU’s Ponderosa Fire Crew, was on his way to work when he noticed the smoke.

    “I just saw smoke in the middle of the morning and it just kept getting thicker and thicker,” Giblin said. “I was worried about the people inside. So, I wanted to go in and check them out and make sure they’re all good.”

    Giblin made sure everyone was out safely and then used the garden hose to put out the flames.

    “I’m glad that hose worked and knocked it out,” he said.

    Shortly after Giblin put the flames out, more crews arrived.

    “It only takes about five minutes to have the full garage be covered in smoke, where you can’t see anything in the fire to move quickly. So, if he wouldn’t have knocked it down by the time the engine got there, it could have been extended into the house or could have gotten everything inside the garage,” Ty Day, Captain of the Ponderosa Fire Center, said.

    The family expressed their gratitude for Giblin’s quick actions.

    “God bless him. Yeah, he was a hero that day.” Weissmann said. “I’m beyond blessed.”

    While the fire was contained to the garage, the family says a lot of the house has smoke damage. It’s still unclear what caused the fire.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Project Lifesaver aids crews in swiftly finding missing boy in NE Minnesota




































    5-year-old boy missing in woods found quickly with new technology



    5-year-old boy missing in woods found quickly with new technology

    01:08

    Police in Pine County, Minnesota, say new technology helped save a 5-year-old boy who got lost in the woods.

    The search began Friday more than 100 miles north of the Twin Cities in Sturgeon Lake for the boy, who wandered off while his family was camping at a nearby lake. Rescuers knew water in the area added danger to the situation. 

    Body camera video shows the search that included ATVs, drones and even a deputy who commandeered a horse to speed up the search.

    “Time was of the essence,” said Chief Deputy Scott Grice. “Autism, non-verbal, there was a lot of risks involved in the area where that child was.”

    But they had help on the way. The boy’s parents enrolled him in Project Lifesaver, a system that uses a unique radio frequency to track people prone to wandering.

    It took deputies just 20 minutes to find the boy with the help of that tracker.

    Grice credits Pine County’s human services department for getting Project Lifesaver up and running. 

    WCCO Staff

    The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

    WCCO Staff

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  • Woman told adopted puppy is a corgi—orders DNA test as she’s not convinced

    A rescue dog from Michigan has melted hearts online after his owners shared pictures of the pup they describe as the “silliest” mix of breeds they’ve ever seen.

    Gina Dufftt, from southeast Michigan, introduced the world to Bowie, a 30-pound, low-to-the-ground rescue with mismatched eyes and a calm, quirky charm, in the Facebook group Dogspotting Society.

    Despite being told he’s a corgi mix and just four months old, Bowie displays none of the typical high-energy puppy behavior. Instead, he has quickly become a laid-back, lovable companion.

    “We named him Bowie because of his awesome heterochromia,” Dufftt told Newsweek. “We know David Bowie didn’t actually have two different colored eyes, but the effect is there. His name when we adopted him was Mr. Pants, which we loved too—so his full name is officially Mr. Bowie Pants.”

    Pictures of Bowie the dog enjoying the backyard at his new home.

    Gina Dufftt

    Bowie was adopted through Bottle Babies Rescue, a local foster shelter. The group recently held an adoption event where 18 dogs found their forever homes. “They were wonderful,” Dufftt said.

    Although Bowie’s exact breed mix remains a mystery, the family has submitted a DNA test through Embark and hopes to receive results in the coming weeks. “Honestly, we have no idea what his breed is. We were told he was a corgi mix and that’s it,” Dufftt said. “I truly only shared his picture online to get feedback. I had no idea so many people would offer so many great opinions.”

    The post has drawn hundreds of comments from dog lovers. Tiffany-Renee Bradner wrote: “A corgi mixed with anything is 1000% adorable.” Others speculated that Bowie could have Old English Sheepdog in his genes, while many simply focused on his cuteness. “I don’t know what else he is besides cute!!!!” said Amber Dezelle.

    Bowie the dog
    Pictures of Bowie the dog who has captured hearts online for his unusual looks.

    Gina Dufftt

    This isn’t the first time a dog with an unusual breed mix has melted hearts online. Like Kiki, a Belgian Malinois-Aspin mix who was affectionately dubbed by her owner as a “Wish.com corgi,” or Scooby, a 3-year-old golden mountain dog—the name given to a mix of golden retriever and Bernese mountain dog.

    For the Dufftt family, Bowie’s arrival came at an especially meaningful time. “He has brought us a lot of joy since we brought him home, having just lost our longtime dog, Dale, a few weeks ago,” Dufftt said. “We are super glad he seems to have touched hearts all over the place.”

    Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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