Dogs Save Owner Trapped In Knee-High Mud Near Potomac River

BETHESDA, MD — Two heroic dogs give a new meaning to "man's best friend" after saving their owner from knee-deep mud.

The 87-year-old man got stuck in the mud while walking his two dog at the edge of the Potomac River, according to multiple media outlets. When he couldn't get out, his dogs went to the C&O Canal towpath, located about 50 yards away, and alerted two passing cyclists.

The cyclists then found the trapped man and called 911.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer confirmed that crews were dispatched to the area on Monday to rescue a man helplessly stuck in the mud. First responders were able to get him out of the mud without injury.

"The dogs saved his life," said Capt. Eddie Russell of Montgomery County Fire Station 10, according to WTOP. "Absent the dogs, there would have not been a trigger to get a cyclist or a hiker to slow down. He was 40 to 50 yards away from the C&O Canal tow path at the water's edge."

Man’s BEST Friend(s) - Potomac River near Brookmont Dam, 2 barking dogs alert passerby cyclist on @COcanalNPS towpath of man stuck in mud out of sight ~50 yards away (hopelessly stuck in mud) - the cyclist alerted @mcfrs rescuers - once extricated/extracted from mud - no injuries pic.twitter.com/0Aa5JZ9o79
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 22, 2019