‘Mum-mode’: Woman shares moment she jumped into dangerous waters to save dog

A woman who jumped into rapid, dangerous water has shared the moment she went into “Mum-mode” to save her dog.

The woman who risked her life to save her dog from rapid waters said she feared she would never see her again.

Madi, 29, and her young pup, Minka, were out on an afternoon walk at the Presidents Park area along Werribee River on Boxing Day when the drama started.

Having frequently visited the park, Madi said Minka had never ventured into the water before Tuesday afternoon, initially caught off guard when her dog was swept up by fast-moving waters about 1.30pm.

“She’s never gone in the river before and she chose yesterday, when it was really full and flowing very rapidly, to decide to go in,” Madi said.

A rope system and two members from the search and rescue squad and Water Police assisted in the rescue. Picture: Victoria Police

The woman, and her dog were pulled from the fast moving water on Boxing Day. Photo: Victoria Police

As she saw her head bob up and down in the water, Madi said she kicked into “Mum-mode” and began running after her, calling for Minka to swim over to the river bank.

“The current was kind of too strong for her to actually cross the river.”

Watching on as Minka was pulled under the rapid, white water of the river, Madi said she “lost her mind” and decided to jump in to save her pup.

“I quickly realised that I wasn’t going to be able to get her out, with me in the water,” she said.

Madi was able to reach Minka, finding refuge on a small tree on the edge of the river that provided the pair relative safety.

She said she had waited for around 10 to 15 minutes before a person walked by.

“I just screamed at them and probably scared the life out of them and asked them to call for help,” she said.

Emergency services, including the Victoria Police search and rescue squad and Water Police members, arrived on scene and co-ordinated a rescue plan – with assistance from local officers and SES members – along the bank to save the pair as they struggled in the water.

Using a rope system anchored from the river bank, a member of the search and rescue squad and Water Police were able to reach Madi and Minka before pulling them to safety.

Emergency services work to rescue a 29-year-old woman from the Werribee River on Tuesday. Photo: Victoria Police

Madi said she embraced her dog as soon as she made it to dry land, before thanking those involved in the rescue effort.

“It could have been so much worse and we were helped by some amazing, amazing people who did a fantastic job at helping us out of that situation, because there was no way that I could get of there with her,” she said.

Madi estimated they had been in the water for about two hours before being pulled to safety.

While she didn’t fear for her life, she knew there was no way she could have carried Minka out of the water on her own.

“I couldn’t get her out with me, there was no way that I could carry her. I couldn’t have her on my back, it was too deep to touch the bottom [of the river].”

Minka was taken to the vet on Wednesday morning and was happy and healthy, with Madi adding all she wanted to was go for a “big walk.”

Madi said she felt that if she hadn’t done something, she would have gone home without a dog.

A rescue dog from NSW, she said Minka, like all rescue dogs, was “special” and any dog owner would have done the same thing to save their pet.

“Anybody would fight for their dog I think.”

She said she probably won’t go back to the river and any future dreams of Minka surfing on a paddle board had been dashed.