This is the dramatic moment when the owner of a paraplegic dog had to lead his “drowning” Rottweiler to the steps of the pool, as he was too heavy to lift him.
Darren Thomas was indoors on the morning of Feb. 17 when he heard his pet dog Cassius, four, crying loudly at home in Cape Town. South Africa.
The 40-year-old director of security found his canine friend, who can’t swim, wrestling in the family pool after he fell on his side 25 minutes ago and didn’t know how to get out.
40-year-old Darren Thomas with his beloved Rottweiler Cassius. Mr. Thomas has been paraplegic since he was shot during a house robbery 14 years ago.
Mr. Thomas, who was in a wheelchair after being shot while protecting his family’s home 14 years ago, attempted to lift the nearly eight-stone Cassius by himself.
Thinking quickly, Mr. Thomas slowly but patiently led Cassius around the edge of almost half of the pool to the safety of the steps so that he could climb out on his own.
Mr. Thomas said: “I was just talking to Cassius, telling him I was going to get him out. It was amazing because he just looked at me completely trustingly and did not resist me at all when I pulled him.
“It’s really heavy and it was wet on top so I pulled it and managed to get it half way out but I just couldn’t use the lever in the chair to get the last piece out so after a few tries I had to make another plan. .
“Cassius loves my daughter, so every morning he sits at her feet while my wife combs her hair. He wasn’t there this morning, so my daughter said, “I wonder where Cassius is.”
Mr Thomas found his canine buddy struggling in the family pool after he fell 25 minutes ago and didn’t know how to get out.
“At first I tried to pull him out, but he weighs 50 kg, and although I consider myself strong enough, I did not have enough leverage in the chair to pull him out without falling myself,” Thomas said.
“We took them to school and I went back to the bathroom to get ready for work. I was shaving when I heard him crying through the open window.
“He doesn’t usually cry, so I went to see what happened. I didn’t see him anywhere in the house, so I went outside and then I saw him.
“I could see that he had been there for a while because he was shaking and he looked like he was tired.
“I immediately called my wife to see if she was far away. She was at least 20 minutes away or more, so I had to make a plan.
“At first I tried to pull him out, but he weighs 50 kg, and although I consider myself strong enough, I didn’t have enough leverage in the chair to pull him out without falling into myself.
“That’s when I thought I should try to get him up the stairs. I began to move his paw after paw while trying to move myself.
“I have a serious injury so it’s difficult for me to keep my balance when I sit upright to pull it with two hands, so I had to do it the way you see in the video.
“He likes to lie next to the pool and we usually cover him. The lid had been removed because the children had been swimming the day before, so when he got up and turned around, he slipped and fell.
“When I later checked the recording, I realized that he had been there for about 25 minutes before I found him. That’s why he’s so tired. I just thank God it was big enough to reach the side.”
Free at last! Cassius is dusting himself off from the water as Mr. Thomas looks on in relief.
Four-year-old Cassius weighs almost eight stone and is the favorite companion of Mr. Thomas and his family.
Mr Thomas was left with T3 paraplegia after bone fragments from his spine were lodged in his spinal cord during a house robbery where he was attacked by seven men.
He said: “Before I was shot, I played rugby for the Lions, I went to the South African kickboxing championships and went to the gym every other day.
“I was a real adrenaline junkie and rode superbikes and jet skis. It was a very difficult transition, but as soon as I went through very difficult times, I had to start living again.
“Me and Lauren finally got married, had two wonderful children and moved to Cape Town five years ago.
“I have spoken to people and corporations, shared my story and inspired people that they still have something to live for, no matter their circumstances, and that they can fight adversity and become better on the other side.
I still train very hard, do adaptive CrossFit and compete in several international online competitions. I am a family man and I love spending time with my children.
“I still have hard days when I don’t want to get up and face a new day, but I have to get up for the sake of my children and wife, to show them that they should never give up and that they can go through whatever they want. to.
“I was given a second chance at life and I want to use it to make a difference in other people’s lives.”