Brave Students Dangle Over Canal In A Heart-Stopping Mission To Save Helpless Pooch That Fell In
Two students in Manchester thought they were just heading home after grabbing coffee, then they heard the kind of commotion that makes your stomach drop. What they saw over a wall was a dog in trouble, and it was not a “someone should call someone” moment, it was a “move now” moment.
Jack Spencer Furmston and Ben Camphor, along with five other students, rushed to help when they realized Batu Akyol’s dog, Sumak, had fallen into the Ancoats Canal. The lead was tangled, the dog was struggling, and the only way to reach him meant climbing over a canal wall, with everything happening fast and far from reassuring.
And that’s where Ben made the choice that turned a scary snapshot into a full-on rescue.
Just in time
Two 20-year-old students, Jack Spencer Furmston and Ben Camphor, spotted something concerning on their way home from a coffee shop in Manchester. Batu Akyol was seen struggling with a lead over a wall, but the boys couldn't tell exactly what was happening from a distance.
Upon closer inspection, they realized that Akyol’s dog, Sumak, had fallen into the Ancoats Canal.
A split-second decision
Ben Camphor didn’t hesitate once he understood Sumak had actually fallen into the Ancoats Canal, not just tangled near the wall.
The two boys, along with five other students, immediately sprang into action to save the dog. Ben decided to take a huge risk—he climbed over the canal wall and reached down to the dog while the other students held firmly to his legs.
A successful mission
Jack Spencer Furmston and the other five students locked in behind Ben, gripping his legs while he reached down to the panicked dog.
It’s the same kind of urgency as a state trooper who waded into floodwaters for a last-minute dog rescue.
Sumak was visibly scared, but Ben extended his arm and grabbed onto his collar. At this point, the other students pulled hard until Ben and Sumak were safely over the canal wall.
A dog saver and a dog owner
The whole plan hinged on that split-second grab, when Ben managed to catch Sumak by the collar before the dog could slip further.
Ben Camphor later shared that he also owns a dog. This was no surprise to us, as it's only natural that a dog owner would better understand just how precious a dog's life is.
In an interview with MailOnline, he said, “Everyone was panicking. I couldn’t let that dog down and not help. I’m a dog owner myself, so there wasn’t a chance I was going to leave it on its own.”
Watch the video of the incredible rescue below
After Sumak was pulled to safety, Ben’s “I couldn’t let that dog down” comment made it clear this wasn’t just bravery, it was personal for him.
The students deserve all the praise and recognition they can get. We can't even imagine what would have happened if they hadn't been around during the incident.
We also can't help but give a special shoutout to Ben, who was brave enough to suspend himself down into the canal to make the rescue. Not many people would make such a sacrifice for a dog, but this event shows just how compassionate some humans can be.
Luckily for Sumak, he got to go home safe and sound. And we're pretty sure he won't forget the sacrifice these students made for him.
Sumak went home safe, and Ben basically proved courage has a collar-grab moment.
Not even muck-stained sewage could stop these officers from diving in for a trapped puppy, see the officers who retrieved the adorable dog from the grime drain.
Share this article:
