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Hero firefighters save puppy stuck overnight in Castlemaine mineshaft

Firefighters saved an eight-month-old puppy stuck 30m down an abandoned mineshaft for more than 24 hours in Central Victoria.

“Hero” firefighters saved an eight-month-old puppy who was stuck 30m down a mineshaft for more than 24 hours in central Victoria.

Paul Galea was exploring the Castlemaine Diggings National Park with a mate and his dog Bruno, a Bull-Arab, on Saturday when the puppy fell.

“At the time my friend and I thought there was no way he had survived,” he said.

“We were calling out to Bruno but there was no sound or whimpering or anything.”

The Keilor Downs owner said he left the park heartbroken, but the next morning returned with a torch.

“I shone the torch down and he walked into the light, I couldn‘t believe it. He wasn’t even limping,” he said.

Bruno was reunited with owner Paul Galea after more than 24 hours spent underground on December 5. Picture: Steve Womersley, Chewton CFA.
Bruno was reunited with owner Paul Galea after more than 24 hours spent underground on December 5. Picture: Steve Womersley, Chewton CFA.

Mr Galea sounded the alarm, with the Chewton Fire Brigade arriving about 1.30pm on Sunday.

Incident controller David Button said the brigade prepared the site for Oscar1 – CFA’s specialist mine rescue team based in Bendigo.

“We set up an area for the team who brought in their gear, went down the shaft, and found the dog which was completely fine and in good spirits,” he said.

Bruno and Mr Galea were reunited about 5pm, which he said brought tears to his eyes.

“I took him to the vet on Tuesday and they said he has come through it well, he’s as good as new,” he said.

Paul Galea, Bruno, Darren Masters, Trent Dempster and Owen Shay from Bendigo's CFA Mine Rescue Team Oscar 1. Picture: Steve Womersley, Chewton CFA.
Paul Galea, Bruno, Darren Masters, Trent Dempster and Owen Shay from Bendigo's CFA Mine Rescue Team Oscar 1. Picture: Steve Womersley, Chewton CFA.

“I want to praise and give my thanks to the Oscar1 team, the country fire association and the Castlemaine police. They were all very professional and did an incredible job.”

Mr Galea said his “very active” puppy would still be coming on field trips but would be “tethered” to him from now on.

Mr Button said the incident was a reminder for owners to be vigilant.

“There are shafts and hidden mines everywhere, so you definitely shouldn’t venture into tunnels, and it would be best to avoid the area entirely,” he said.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/bendigo/hero-firefighters-save-puppy-stuck-overnight-in-castlemaine-mineshaft/news-story/91ab3d9506d4b4cc27295dd9e6a7b3b1