Paddling furiously through choppy waters off the Kent coast, extreme rower Charlie Head was almost on the closing stretch of a gruelling bid to row 600-miles from Cornwall to London.
But when the 'gobsmacked' 33-year-old spotted a bedraggled Shih Tzu puppy stranded on rocks, he dropped all thoughts of his endurance challenge and swiftly changed course to pluck the terrified animal from the rising water and safely onto his paddle board.
Mr Head, who said the dog - called Bam Bam - would have been submerged within ten minutes had he not spotted him, even captured video footage of the heroic rescue thanks to a camera fitted in his helmet.
Mr Head, from the Isle of Wight said: 'I was gobsmacked. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
'He was just sat there wondering what the hell to do. He was absolutely terrified.
'In about ten minutes the rock would have been covered with water. I managed to paddle out to him and then get him on my board.'
The rower, who said tiny Bam Bam was the type of dog more likely to be discovered peeping from a woman's handbag than venturing into choppy waters, said the petrified pup snuggled down on the board as Mr Head paddled it to safety.
'He was terrified when I picked him up but I think he soon realised I was trying to help.
'And when he felt safe he snuggled up between my legs and we headed back to shore. It is incredible that he was able to get out there - this is not a big tough dog.
'It is the sort of animal people carry around in their handbags.'
source: dailymail
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