Dogs rescued from the roof of a car submerged in flood waters north of Melbourne

TWO dogs hair-raisingly rescued from floodwaters by local farmers in a tinny north of Melbourne, after authorities deemed it too dangerous, have been reunited with their loving owner.

TWO dogs dramatically rescued by local farmers after they were marooned for five hours on top of a car that was swept away by a flooded creek on Saturday have been reunited with their owner.

Herbert Bettels, 80, was driving along Joyces Rd in Chintin, 75km north of Melbourne, when his car was suddenly swept away by a torrent of water from Deep Creek.

Mr Bettels escaped through his car window before the water carried him 100m downstream, but his two cattle dogs, Red and Blue, were left stranded on the roof of the vehicle, which came to rest against a large willow tree.

Herbert Bettels, 80, at home in Springflied with his dogs Red and Blue who were dramatically rescued from floodwaters yesterday. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Reunited at last. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Plenty of licking and lapping up the love. Picture: Eugene Hyland

The dogs are back where they should be. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Blue and Red are rescued after being stranded on a car which was caught in flood waters near Romsey. Local Chris Sewell attempts to rescue the dogs using a small boat. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

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They were eventually rescued by local farmers Chris Sewell and Benny Dyer after the SES and police deemed it too risky and left the scene.

Mr Bettels was swept away around noon yesterday. After swimming for his life he walked barefoot 2km up a dirt track to raise the alarm, after losing his shoes.

The car was trapped in the fast-flowing water. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The dogs were in a perilous position. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Red and Blue's owner Herbert Bettels, 80, was forced to swim for his life. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Sewell grits his teeth as he fights to steaday the boat. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Sewell gets a lick of gratitude from one of the stranded dogs. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Sewell grabs Red by the collar and hauls her into the tinny after she proved a tricky customer as Mr Dyer keeps the boat steady. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

SES and police arrived at the scene just before 1.30pm to find the dogs perched precariously on the roof of the vehicle.

They decided to leave the dogs overnight with a view to reaching them once the water had subsided in the morning.

But a brave group of locals refused to leave the dogs and got to work.

Mr Dyer got a tinny from his property and launched it into the rushing water.

Mr Sewell then coaxed both dogs into the tinny before Red became spooked and jumped out of the boat and on to the car and a pile of debris, which had gathered between the vehicle and the willow tree.

After taking Blue to safety Mr Sewell and Mr Dyer returned and, with a bit of gentle persuasion, were able to get Red on board. The dramatic rescue was completed by 4.30pm.

“It is piss-weak that the SES, police and CFA wouldn’t do it,” Mr Sewell said. “They left it to a couple of farmers to have a crack.”

Mr Dyer said: “We just couldn’t leave them there all night.”

Mr Bettels, a cattle farmer, has owned the dogs, which are sisters, for 2½ years.

“I love these dogs and I’m very thankful to everybody who helped bring them home,” he said. “It got a little bit scary there.”

@davidhurleyHS

The dogs waited patiently to be rescued. Picture: Jake Nowakowski