A 16-year-old teen named Joseph Phillips-Garcia and his family were on a trip to the mountains when their car met with an accident. They were from the community of Kanaka Bar in British Columbia. Unfortunately, his cousins and aunts were killed in the crash immediately while Joseph and his dog, Sako, fell a 328-foot embankment.
Joseph became paralyzed and suffered from a broken femur and collarbone. He could feel Sako worriedly looking at him as he lay unconscious and lifeless in the dam. The dog never left his brother. He tried to keep his owner warm with his own body.
For two long days, Sako would drag Joseph to a stream to feed him water and keep him alive. Their main fear, however, was the predators lurking around them. The coyotes were able to follow them, probably smelling Joseph’s blood. Coyotes belong to the canine family native to North America and are related to the gray wolf. It is believed that coyotes are man’s worst enemies. They were known to attack humans and are potentially dangerous to people, most especially children.
While Sako kept fighting the coyotes off, he fearlessly put his life on the line to protect Joseph from the dangerous beasts. He had to endure the coyote bites for several days until help came.
After three days and two nights in the woods, a search and rescue team could finally locate Joseph and Sako. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Joseph underwent multiple surgeries due to his injuries. Sako was also treated for the deep wounds from the coyote bites.
The police shared their story of survival, and Sako became famous for his courageous act. He was later added to the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, where he was awarded a medal and honored in a ceremony.
Watch an inspiring story of loyalty and bravery by clicking the video.
Source Purina via Youtube