WATCH Brave Gardener Risks His Life to Rescue Dog from Raging KZN Flood Waters

A video has captured the incredible moment a dog was swept to certain death down the steep side of an overflowing KwaZulu-Natal dam, in raging floodwaters… until a brave human hero came to his rescue, risking his own life to save the dog. Watch below (get ready to hold your breath!).

The dog, named Scamp, had tried to follow his owner across a watery causeway from one side of a full-up dam to the other, but was swiftly swept away into the surging rapids far below.

Miraculously, after being tossed and turned as if he was in a washing machine at the bottom, the terrified hound clambered to safety on a rock… but was still stranded amidst the wild torrent.

Eye witness James Stewart, 65, who was out for a walk with wife Stella, 65, saw the drama and leapt into action racing back to his nearby home for a rope.

He called to his neighbour’s younger gardener Amos Ndlovu, 35, who was cutting grass, and asked him if he would risk his life leaping into the raging water to try a rescue.

Without a second’s hesitation Amos volunteered and tied the rope around his waist, while James held the other end, and climbed down into the freezing flood water.

James’s wife Stella recorded the gripping rescue attempt on her phone last Saturday at the Bell Park Dam above Champagne Valley in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

During the five-minute nail-biting video Amos can be seen bravely and patiently edging his way step by step across the slippery rocks, being battered by the fast-running overflow.

after a few soothing words from Amos, who has two dogs of his own, Scamp gives him his trust

When he finally reaches terrified Scamp the dog is frozen to the spot but after a few soothing words from Amos, who has two dogs of his own, he gives him his trust.

Amos picks Scamp up in his arms and begins to retrace his steps through the ever-deepening floodwaters that had by now started to make his lower legs feel totally numb.

Amos deserves a medal – he risked his life to save the dog

Stella, whose home at Cathkin Park in the Drakensberg Mountains fronts onto the the dam, said:”I know that dam well and I knew just one slip and Amos would be dead.

“If he went over the edge in that torrent, if he was not smashed to death on the 100-metre drop the other side then he would have got jammed under a rock and drowned.

“My heart was in my mouth but I carried on recording anyhow and every single second seemed like a minute as he carried the dog closer and closer to the safety of the bank.

“I felt exhausted when Amos made it across and handed the dog up to my husband, and then safely pulled himself out the water as well. The rescue took about 5 long minutes.

“He was the hero of the hour and deserves a medal for what he did,” she says.

Dog owner was carrying each dog over one at a time, when the others followed

Stella revealed that the dog walker who owned Scamp had been caught out by huge rains in KZN since New Year’s Day which had caused the dam to burst for the first time in years.

She said:”The owner had four dogs and had decided to walk them over the flooded causeway carrying them one by one and had taken the first over and left three behind.

“However the remaining dogs decided not to stay put and followed their owner and two were washed over the edge but the bigger one managed to scramble back up.

“The smaller one however just scooted down as if on a slide on his backside picking up speed all the way until he hit the rapids at the bottom and then he just vanished.

“He was being spun over and over and then he reappeared on a rock looking very scared and sorry for himself. That was when my husband decided to try and rescue him.

“I am very proud of Amos and my James for saving that poor dog. It is cats who are supposed to have nine lives but this lucky little fella certainly had lady luck on his side,” she says.

Social media hails hero gardener Amos

Hero gardener Amos, who people on social media are calling to be recognised by an award from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, played down his heroics.

He said: “I have two dogs myself and know dogs well and could tell by the way this one was crying and barking that he just wanted to be saved and needed a bit of help.

“Once he was safe in my arms he trusted me and didn’t struggle which made it easier but I was just concentrating on not losing my footing and going over into the floodwater.

“I know if I had slipped into the water it would have been the end for me but I was determined to save this dog’s life and I felt confident that I could get us both to safety.

“However when I handed him to James and got out and tried to give him a pat he only went and tried to bite me!” he said.

Retired panel shop worker James said: “Amos was very brave and very modest and after returning the dog to his overjoyed owner he just went back to work as normal”.

WATCH VIDEO: Brave Hero Risks His Life to Save Scamp the Dog from Raging Flood Waters

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