Anna lived in a small town by the river. Since childhood, this river had been something special to her: in summer she would run there barefoot with her friends, and in winter she would skate on the ice. But over the years, the river had become more of a place for quiet walks, where she could think about life and take a break from the hustle and bustle.
That day seemed like any other. It was Saturday morning, the sun was shining brightly, there was a light breeze, and there were few people on the embankment. Anna was walking along a narrow path by the water, thinking about the week ahead. She was carrying a bag of groceries, and her thoughts were focused on household chores.
She didn’t notice that the stone under her foot was slippery from moisture.
Her foot slipped, the bag fell out of her hands, and in the next moment Anna fell down with a scream.
Cold water hit her face, knocking the breath out of her. She tried to get out, but the current was too fast. It was impossible to swim in her clothes — they were wet and pulling her down. Every breath became a desperate attempt not to swallow water. Her heart was pounding, panic overwhelmed her, and only one thought echoed in her head: ‘I’m drowning…’
At that moment, Rex, the neighbours’ large sheepdog, was walking on the bank. He had always been energetic and courageous, but at that moment he did what is usually called a miracle. Hearing the splash and the scream, the dog rushed to the water.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Rex jumped into the river. Spray flew in all directions as his body cut powerfully through the water. Anna was almost unconscious at that moment, her strength leaving her, but suddenly she felt someone pulling her sleeve.
The dog grabbed her with his teeth and pulled her towards the shore. The water hit her face, the current tried to carry them both away, but Rex paddled with incredible determination. He pulled her, growling low, as if fighting the river itself.
People gathered on the shore. Someone shouted:
‘Hold on! Hold on!’
Someone ran for a rope, others tried to throw her a stick, but it was all unnecessary — the dog was managing on his own.
Step by step, metre by metre, Rex pulled Anna towards dry land. When they reached the shallows, she collapsed on the ground, gasping for air and coughing. Her body was shaking from the cold and fear.
Rex stood nearby, wet and breathing heavily, but his eyes were shining. He seemed to understand that he had done something great. The people around applauded and petted his head, some even filming the scene on their phones.
Anna hugged the dog, pressed herself against his wet neck and burst into tears. Her voice trembled:
‘You saved me… You’re my hero…’
Later, neighbours said that Rex had always had a special intuition. He sensed trouble long before it happened. But on that day, he did something that essentially saved a person’s life.
This story quickly spread throughout the town. Newspapers wrote about the ‘heroic dog,’ children ran to Rex to pet him, and adults nodded respectfully to his owners, proud that a real saviour lived among them.
Since then, Anna has never been able to pass by the sheepdog indifferently. She brought him treats, petted him, and talked to him as if he were a person. Every time her gaze met his intelligent eyes, her heart skipped a beat with gratitude.
And now, when she passes by the river, she always remembers that moment — the icy water, the despair… and the strong paws that helped her return to life.
