Mutt Keeps Freezing Man Alive Until Help Arrives

Wednesday, August 15, 2001 - NEW ZEALAND

"Happiness is a warm puppy."

Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts

TAUPO — In the subzero temperatures of Kaimanawa Forest Park on the North Island of New Zealand, a warm puppy can amount to a whole lot more than happiness; it'll downright save your life.

On Monday, a forest survey helicopter spotted a crashed Suzuki four-wheel-drive vehicle near Sika Lodge, about 40km southeast of Taupo.  Upon investigating, they found the nearly-dead Mr. Desmond Pemberton, aged 58, who had been missing since last Wednesday, August 8.  At his side in a ravine was his trusty Labrador/Blue Heeler mix named "B".

Mr. Pemberton, who is in remission from lung cancer and also suffers from emphysema, was frozen and unable to speak.  The New Zealand Herald reported yesterday, "Over the five nights he was missing, temperatures fell to minus four degrees and on three nights it rained... Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said Mr. Pemberton was suffering from hypothermia and would almost certainly have died last night had he not been found."

Authorities noted that the man was kept alive by the warmth of his dog who slept by his side at night when temperatures plunged.

Last week Mr. Pemberton had gone for an anticipated two-hour hunting excursion with his dog but had become stranded when the vehicle ran into a trench.  It is believed that, while investigating in the dim light, the man fell into the 5m (15ft) ravine and was unable to climb out.

B was able to jump in and out of the ravine but remained close to Mr. Pemberton who was wearing only a pair of polar fleece pants, a polypropylene singlet, a T-shirt and a bush shirt.

Said one of the rescuers, "He was that cold he was actually stiff.  He couldn't open his mouth."

Mr. Pemberton was transferred to the Rotorua Hospital intensive care unit and was unavailable for comment ...although Scoop reporters suspect that from now on, B will be sleeping in the bed.

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