Labrador puppy’s dramatic rescue after falling down 15-metre-deep mine shaft

The family whose puppy was rescued by more than a dozen emergency service workers after she fell 15 metres, has left a humble message for her rescuers.

Marah was on a walk with her family prior to the incident.

The family of a beloved puppy who survived a 15 metre fall into a mining shaft, say she owes her life to the people who put their “own safety aside” to rescue her.

Marah, a 12-month-old Labrador, is lucky to be alive following an “uncanny” but terrifying Father’s Day ordeal which resulted in her being trapped for at least half an hour underground.

The very special pooch was walking with her owners, 14-year-old Hugh and his mum Anna in the regional town of Maldon on Sunday, when she strayed from the group.

Marah with her 14-year-old owner Hugh.

Marah safely back with her owners following the ordeal.

After realising she was missing, the family spent some time looking for her before Hugh found her quietly waiting for help at the bottom of a mine shaft.

“I felt pretty helpless and sad because I saw her and didn’t know how to get her,” he told the Herald Sun.

But as Marah whimpered, a quick-thinking Hugh told his mum to dial emergency services, who arrived at South Parkins Reef Rd just after 4.20pm.

Maldon Country Fire Authority (CFA) shortly saw the inquisitive pooch down a 15-metre-deep mine shaft on Ridge Track, located about 300 metres from where the family were walking.

Due to the rescue’s complexity, the CFA’s specialist mine rescue team Oscar One, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and the SES were all called in to help retrieve Marah. ​

“Atmospheric monitoring was undertaken while crews prepared to enter the mine,” a CFA spokesperson said.

High Angle Rescue equipment was used to retrieve Marah.

Marah safely back above ground after falling 15 metres.

Stunning pictures captured the rescue’s difficulty as more than a dozen firefighters and SES volunteers were observed working at the scene.

“The Victorian SES crew provided support and made the scene safe while high angle rescue support was requested from CFA and FRV,” a SES spokesman said.

Rescuers tied several ropes to surrounding trees which were used to secure a metal frame positioned over the shaft.

A harnessed member from the Oscar One team was then lowered down to retrieve Marah with the rescue taking 30 minutes.

“I was worried she would turn up dead or was really hurt,” Hugh said.

“But I was also very grateful for the people going down there because apparently there could have been stale air.”

More than a dozen CFA, FRV and SES staff assisted with the rescue.

Oscar One was called in to help retrieve Marah.

When rescuers brought Marah up to the surface, Hugh said she tried to jump out of their arms.

“I was very happy,” Hugh said, with Anna adding the family was relieved to see the puppy alive and well.

“She’s very special to Hugh so were worried about how we would get her back and for the people who were risking their safety by going down,” she said.

“So there was a lot of relief when Marah came up and a lot of happiness because she was very excited.”

A CFA spokesperson said the “excited puppy” was glad to be reunited with family and lucky to have no injuries.

The scene was declared safe just after 6.30pm, with the SES describing the rescue a “great result for all involved”.

Hugh said Marah had returned to her usual self following lots of cuddles on Monday.

“I would like to say thank you very much to the response emergency services, they were amazing and it was very humbling that they all came,” Anna said.

“Like Hugh said, ‘Marah you should feel so lucky that so many people came to help you’. It was pretty special, they were amazing people.”