Helicopter Pilots Rescue Dog After Waterfall Fall in New Zealand

On March 31, helicopter pilots successfully rescued a border collie that had been separated from its owner after an accident while hiking in New Zealand.

The dog, named Molly, had gone missing after falling from a 180-foot waterfall on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The owner sustained various injuries and was airlifted to a hospital on March 24, but unfortunately, rescuers couldn’t locate the dog initially. Eventually, Molly was discovered several meters from where her owner had landed, thanks to Matt Newton, who owns Precision Helicopters New Zealand.

“I reached out to her in the hospital, promising I would look for the dog,” Newton explained. His shop is close to where Molly went missing. “I searched many times, but I couldn’t find her.”

After several unsuccessful attempts, Newton and his family started a fundraising campaign to purchase better search equipment and secure more flight time, raising over 11,000 New Zealand dollars (around $6,300). This money helped obtain thermal imaging tools and funded an additional three-hour flight. On March 31, with the help of a veterinary nurse, volunteers, and their dog Bingo, they located Molly using the thermal imaging equipment.

“Within about an hour, I hit the jackpot,” Newton recounted. “As I was flying up the river, I spotted a dog in the hot springs, and then I could see it more clearly.”

Interestingly, Molly had not been seen in the original search around the falls. It’s still uncertain if she made her way back towards where her owner had fallen or if she fell in another area. One volunteer used Bingo to encourage Molly to board the helicopter when she initially hesitated.

Newton remarked that the dog was in “remarkably good condition.”

“I think she knew what we were planning,” the pilot said. “She was really well-behaved, didn’t try to run away, and seemed happy to be rescued.”

After her rescue, Newton was able to reunite Molly with her owner. He expressed gratitude to the public on his Facebook page, sharing a video showing the dog resting on a rock before the reunion. The man, alongside another dog, managed to retrieve Molly, and all three boarded the helicopter together.

The company thanked everyone who contributed and volunteered, stating that Molly’s successful rescue wouldn’t have been feasible without the collective efforts. They noted how joyous it was for Molly to be reunited with her owner after a week apart in the wilderness.

Molly’s case isn’t unique; in August 2025, a similar rescue involved an injured hiker and his dog near Fiddle Lake in Idaho, highlighting the bond between pets and their humans.