Community-Funded Helicopter Rescues Dog Molly After Week in NZ Wilderness
Image: The Guardian

Community-Funded Helicopter Rescues Dog Molly After Week in NZ Wilderness

01 April, 2026.Tourism.8 sources

Key Takeaways

  • Border collie Molly vanished a week after Jessica Johnston fell 55m waterfall in NZ.
  • A donation-funded helicopter rescue found Molly alive and reunited her with Johnston.
  • Rescue coordinated by Precision Helicopters, with support from donors; dog found shivering near remote area.

Dog Survives Week Alone

Molly was found alive after being lost for a week in the New Zealand wilderness.

When Jessica Johnston fell 180 feet down a waterfall in New Zealand, she was lucky to survive

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Johnston was seriously injured and airlifted to hospital, but Molly was nowhere to be seen.

Image from CNN
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A community-driven effort funded through a crowdfunding campaign realized more than NZ$11,000.

Molly was found wet but alive just meters from where Johnston had fallen.

Pilot's Gut Feeling

Pilot Matt Newton said he had a gut feeling Molly was still alive.

The family-run company launched a fundraiser and organized a volunteer team.

Image from Devdiscourse
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Molly was found using thermal imaging within an hour of the renewed search.

Emotional Reunion

Johnston slowly lowered herself to embrace the canine.

The rescue was widely covered as a heartwarming outcome.

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