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April 1, 2026

Injured hiker's dog rescued by helicopter week after getting lost in wild New Zealand forest

Updated on: April 1, 2026 / 8:00 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Injured hiker's dog rescued by helicopter week after getting lost in wild New Zealand forest

TL;DR

  • A hiker fell from a 180-foot waterfall in New Zealand and was rescued, but her dog, Molly, was left behind.
  • Strangers raised over $6,300 to fund a helicopter search for Molly.
  • A helicopter pilot used thermal imaging to locate Molly, and a rescue dog helped coax her to safety.
  • Molly was found a week later, in surprisingly good condition, and reunited with her owner, Jess.