While celebrating his 38th birthday with friends at a park along the East River in Brooklyn, Gabe Castellanos heard urgent cries for help. People were shouting about a dog that was struggling in the water.
The dog, named Harper, had been on her usual walk with her dog walker. As they crossed a street, a cab driver ran a stop sign and struck both of them. Though they only had minor injuries, the dog walker accidentally dropped Harper’s leash in the chaos.
Frightened by the accident, Harper bolted and ran until she reached the East River. Overwhelmed with fear, she leaped into the cold water.
It was a warm day, and the park was full of people who quickly noticed Harper fighting to stay afloat in the freezing river. Someone called the police, but many were worried they wouldn’t arrive in time to save her. Harper was visibly losing strength.
That’s when Gabe decided to take action. Having trained in water survival skills at SUNY Maritime College, he knew he could help. He rushed to the park’s pier, carefully climbed over the side, and jumped into the chilly water.
“There was a grand cheer when I entered the water,” Castellanos told The Dodo. “After that, I was no longer focused on the crowds and my surroundings but focused on my breathing and swimming over to Harper. The crowds went mute during my swim. I’m sure they were still cheering, but I could not hear anything other than the water.”
Gabe swam swiftly toward Harper. Frightened, she bit his hand and face when he reached her. Understanding her fear, Gabe spoke to her softly until she allowed him to guide her back to shore.
When they finally reached dry land, hundreds of onlookers cheered loudly. By that time, the police and an ambulance had arrived. Someone had also contacted Harper’s owner, Erin O’Donnell. She was performing with the Brooklyn Irish Dance Company in Manhattan and was shocked to hear what had happened. She was immensely grateful to Gabe for rescuing her beloved dog.
“Thank you, Gabe, and I hope you’re feeling better,” O’Donnell said.
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Harper had some injuries to her paws but was otherwise doing well. She is now recuperating at home with Erin.
“Her paws are in rough shape, so she will need some trendy boots for a few weeks, but otherwise she’s in great spirits,” O’Donnell said. “It is definitely so refreshing to see the positive responses from people at the Brooklyn Barge and on social media expressing their sympathy for Harper and praising Gabe, who definitely saved the day.”
When Gabe saw that Harper was in danger, he didn’t hesitate to help. We’re thrilled that both he and Harper are recovering well from their experience!
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