‘I just lost my mind, I thought I was going to lose her’: Dog owner Madi reveals dramatic rescue

A woman who jumped into the Werribee River to save her dog who was swept away has praised the “amazing” emergency crews who came to their aid.

A young woman said she “kicked into Mum mode” when she jumped into raging rapids to save her beloved dog who had been swept away at Werribee river on Boxing Day.

Madi, who did not wish to give her last name, and her dog Minka, were pulled to safety in a dramatic water rescue on Tuesday afternoon after the pair ran into trouble in the rising waterways.

Madi said she had been walking in the off-lead area when Minka, a Staffy X, strayed too far into the water.

The 29-year-old said she “kicked into Mum mode” as she chased Minka down the river, trying to call her back to the bank but the current was too strong for the pooch.

Madi and her dog Minka were rescued from the water on Boxing Day. Picture: Ian Currie

After seeing Minka’s head go under whitewater, Madi jumped in.

“I just lost my mind,” she said.

“(I thought) I was going to lose her.”

The Maidstone woman said she was a good swimmer and didn’t fear for her own safety, but she couldn’t leave her dog behind.

She said the water’s depth caught her off-guard and she quickly realised she wouldn’t be able to get them both safely to shore.

She clung onto a broken tree that had formed an island in the water and pulled herself and her dog up onto it.

Emergency crews helping Madi and her dog Minka after they were stranded in the Werribee River.

“The first passer-by I saw I just screamed at them, I probably scared the life out of them,” she said.

“(Minka) has never gone in the river before, and she chose yesterday when it was really full and flowing very rapidly.”

Emergency services responded to the passer-by’s triple-0 call to execute a swift water rescue.

Search and Rescue Squad Acting Sergeant Nicole Bath said they sent in two “tethered swimmers” who were attached to the riverbank by a cable.

Water Police Acting Sergeant Justin Ivory retrieved Minka while another secured Madi in a lifejacket before being pulled to the safety of the banks — almost two hours after she first jumped into the water.

Tethered swimmers helped pull Minka and Madi to safety.

It was the first time Minka had jumped into the river. Picture: Ian Currie

Acting Sgt Bath said Minka complicated the rescue.

“People are usually quite easy to deal with but animals throw another element of problem solving into it,” she said.

“We’re really lucky that the dog took to Justin quite well.”

“She was really well behaved,” Acting Sgt Ivory added.

He said the conditions were “definitely dangerous”, and people regularly underestimated the force of flowing water.

Madi said she was relieved to cuddle her dog once they were safe.

“(I thought) holy smokes, we just dodged a big one there,” she said.

The pair were not seriously injured, and Madi said on Wednesday morning a vet had given Minka a clean bill of health.

“It could have been so much worse, and we were helped by some amazing people who did a fantastic job,” she said.

It comes after severe weather lashed the state over the long weekend, killing two people.

A Victorian SES spokeswoman said they had received over 1300 requests for assistance since December 24.

“We’ve also had 12 flood rescues assisting Victoria Police,” she said.

However, conditions are expected to ease in the lead up to 2024.

Victorians can expect dry and cool conditions this New Year’s Eve, with New Year’s Day expected to be mostly sunny with a top of 25C.