The dramatic moment a man rescues a dog from a frozen lake on Thanksgiving has gone viral on TikTok.
In the video uploaded by user @mother.of.parrots3, also known as Keirsten Slagle, to the social media platform TikTok, Slagle’s topless boyfriend can be seen wading through frozen water and breaking up the ice with his fists until he reaches the pooch.
In the video, Slagles encourages her boyfriend to rescue the dog while another voice can be heard attempting to reassure the struggling dog. “Please don’t let her go under,” Slagle can be heard saying.
Thankfully, Slagle’s boyfriend was able to reach the dog in time. In one motion, he scoops up the dog and makes his way back through the ice.
@mother.of.parrots3 On thanksgiving my boyfriend saved a dog that fell through ice🤍 #rescue #fyp #ice #dog @austin.mccarthy
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While the rescue was a success, Slagle’s boyfriend did not come out unscathed. “His whole body was cut up,” Slagles reported in the comments of the video.
Hypothermia
In waters with a temperature around the freezing point, a human is only able to survive in the freezing water for 15 to 45 minutes with flotation, according to University of Minnesota’s Recreation and Water Safety Program. With flotation and protective gear, a human can survive for about an hour in freezing waters before the brain and heart stop.
A dog’s core body temperature is slightly higher than humans at around 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit (or 88.6 degrees Celsius). Hypothermia starts setting in if a dog’s body temperature drops below 99 or 98 degrees Fahrenheit according to PetMD.
Hypothermia starts setting in if a dog’s body temperature drops below 99 or 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Dog Hypothermia Symptoms
Signs of hypothermia for a dog include:
- Shivering
- Increased heart rate, followed by a decrease in heart rate
- Rapid breathing, followed by slower and shallower breathing
- Sluggishness and delayed reflexes
- Paleness
- Fixed or dilated pupils
- Lethargy
If you believe that your dog is suffering from hypothermia, you should try and rewarm your dog in a gradual process, according to Pet MD. “Think warm, not hot.” Don’t try to use a heating pad. They can give off too much heat, causing burns, or they can direct too much blood flow towards the skin, worsening hypothermia effects.
If your dog is suffering from hypothermia, warm them up gradually. Think warm, not hot.
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Slagle’s viral rescue on TikTok has been viewed over 10 million times on the platform, with viewers praising the dramatic rescue. Many commenters labelled him “a hero” for saving the dog.
One user commented, “Total respect for that man. Thank you for being courageous and saving that dog.”
Another user commented what we were all thinking, “Give this man the keys to the city.”
