Hero firefighters brave freezing temps and 8 foot waves to rescue dog in Lake Superior

Firefighters in Minnesota braved the extremely cold waters of Lake Superior last week to save a dog drowning in eight-foot waves, officials said Monday.

The rescue began at around 6.20pm on December 7 when emergency services responded to a call about a dog who had broken free from its leash and leapt into the water near the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, the Duluth Fire Department said.

The dog’s desperate owner met rescuers on the bridge and pointed out her pet "struggling in eight-foot-plus waves in the middle of the ship canal," fire officials said.

Crews entered the lake clad in ice rescue suits for protection against the "extreme cold water and ice".

As rescuers battled their way through the rough conditions to reach the panicked pooch, they struggled to maintain sight of it amid the waves and low light.

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Firefighters and the dog’s owner on the bridge shouted directions to the rescue team in the water, helping them to locate and grab it by its collar, the department said.

Officials said they struggled against the waves to keep the dog’s head above water as it was large and frightened by the ordeal.

As the waves swept the rescuers and dog beneath the Duluth bridge toward the bay, Marine-3 arrived in an inflatable rescue boat and managed to pull them from the icy waters.

The poor dog received exposure and was reunited with his worried owners. The pup’s condition improved quickly, and he even was "able to walk on his own and was wagging his tail as he jumped into his owner’s car," according to officials.

Firefighters said during the rescue call they had to prevent the dog’s owner from jumping in after her beloved pet, and bystanders helped "convince the owner not to go in after the dog" who was "threatening to jump" into the perilously cold waters.

Officials warned the public against putting themselves in danger and taking matters into their own hands in such a situation.

"We have learned in the fire service that if we do not respond to help in these situations bystanders and owners likely will take action on their own," the department said.

"Without the proper training and equipment, this most often results in the firefighters now responding to a call for a person in harm’s way."

"Given the wave and temperature conditions in the canal last night, anyone entering the water without the proper training and equipment would most likely have ended in tragedy," they added.