Luke O’Nien’s heroic efforts in saving a canine’s life on a Sunderland seaside final week have been labelled ‘unbelievable’ by his proprietor.
Just two days earlier than the Sunderland captain began in opposition to Coventry City within the Championship, O’Nien was one in every of a bunch of passersby that helped to save lots of a 12-year-old German pointer named Elmo after the canine had obtained into bother on Seaburn seaside.
The incident occurred Thursday night as O’Nien was out walking along with his younger household on the seaside near the cliffs earlier than reaching Whitburn.
Eyewitnesses reported that an aged canine was swimming within the sea however bumped into difficulties and needed to be pulled out of the water by the canine’s proprietor. Passers-by described a younger man working over to assist the girl proprietor with O’Nien pumping the canine’s chest till the pooch coughed up seawater and started to breathe once more.
After accounts of the incident circulated on social media, The Echo reached out to Sunderland AFC, who confirmed the story. And now The Echo has heard the story from Elmo’s proprietor, Angela Wood, who says the rescue would not have been profitable with out O’Nien and that she owes her canine’s life to him.
“I had taken him down swimming as he’s a retired German pointer,” Angela advised The Echo. “He is a retired working canine and he has at all times swum so I made a decision to take him for a swim that night time. It was simply the fourth throw of the ball in. He likes to swim out a bit and I make the throw shorter each time.
“He was chewing the ball which he doesn’t usually do however then he misplaced the ball, he was swimming round in a circle to search out it. Suddenly his head went down and his again finish went up and he was floating. I simply knew one thing had occurred. I didn’t know if he had a coronary heart assault as his swimming had been advantageous.
“I’ve been eager about it since Thursday night time and I simply don’t know if he had obtained cramp or had a coronary heart assault even the vets can’t actually clarify it. You simply know when one thing isn’t proper, I simply ran straight in to get him. He is 12-years-old and 45 kilograms and I needed to drag him again to shore by his collar.
“As I obtained him out of the water he was crying however then he gave an enormous sigh and I assumed he had died. As I obtained him up, which I don’t know the way I did as he’s a tonne weight, I used to be exhausted, this girl came visiting and tried to assist. I didn’t actually know what to take action I simply began pumping his chest. I simply thought that I wanted to push the fluid out.
“I didn’t know what I used to be doing actually. There was foam popping out of his mouth with no water however then abruptly a person in white shorts got here and took over pumping his chest. I used to be attempting however I solely have a lot energy. He simply saved pumping and pumping, he additionally advised me to Google to see if we had been doing the appropriate factor however I used to be too in all places to do it correctly.
“All of a sudden, the water got here up and Elmo got here round. Luke O’Nien, who I didn’t realise who it was on the time, saved pushing and the canine got here round. We stood him as much as get his blood circulation going, he was a bit bemused. I couldn’t consider it. I couldn’t have pushed the water out of him the best way Luke did due to the energy he had.
“We obtained the canine as much as Minchella’s and Luke was nonetheless there ready round to verify all the pieces was okay and the younger woman who had seen me firstly together with two different guys waited with me for my husband to reach. The employees at Minchella’s gave us water and helped too, which was actually good of them.”
Unfortunately, Elmo wasn’t fairly out of the woods and struggled once more throughout the night time however his now steadily bettering and returning to his regular self, says his proprietor. After a go to to the vet, it was confirmed that there was no water left in his lungs and Elmo was instructed to take it simple.
“So far he’s again to his regular self and appears advantageous! I don’t suppose he would have survived with out Luke there. He was marvellous. I can’t thank Luke and everybody there sufficient. Someone had mentioned it was Luke O’Nien however I didn’t actually know who he was. It is sensible how individuals may help you.
“I used to be simply there on my own however the girl got here after which two males after which Luke. I didn’t realise on the time that Luke was there along with his household. I simply can’t consider how a lot he would do for my canine, to assist and keep there and be so form. In this present day in age, you generally get a bit despondent with all the pieces that occurred however he was simply marvellous.
“I need to try to thank him with a letter or card as he saved Elmo’s life. I used to be fearful as a result of Luke was on the seaside along with his household and I hope his children weren’t too scared by all the pieces that was occurring. I used to be in a lot shock that I didn’t know if I thanked individuals sufficient once I was there.
“I’m simply so grateful, I can’t even actually converse to place it into phrases, we’re simply so glad he’s again with us. It is simply unbelievable.”
