While kayaking in Veracruz, Mexico, professional kayaker Paul Palmer from Colorado Springs and his team spotted a black dog stranded on a rock ledge between two major waterfalls. The dog had apparently fallen over a 60-foot waterfall and was trapped above a dangerous 90-foot drop. Recognizing the risk, Palmer and fellow kayakers Beckham Bayreuther, Gav Barker, David Mitchell, and Sofia Reinoso shifted their mission from their planned descent to rescue the dog.
Palmer rappelled down to the dog and spent about an hour gaining her trust. After she calmed down a bit, he carefully placed her on his kayak and paddled to safety, wrapping a safety cord around her neck to keep her secure. The group then climbed a steep, wet cliff to exit the gorge, passing the dog hand-to-hand in a delicate and risky ascent above the waterfall.
The landowner near the waterfall had never seen the dog, so the kayakers brought her to a nearby hostel that’s popular with kayakers. They named her Tomata, after the waterfall where she was found, and she quickly made herself at home. Palmer joked that she now inspires other kayakers to brave the Tomata 1 waterfall, saying, “Come on, don’t worry about it. A dog ran it!”
Source: COLORADO SUN
Photo: renATE photography / Moment / Getty Images