Rig workers 135 miles from land thought they saw debris floating towards them — but their hearts sank when they looked closer

Though no one knows how he ended up so far from land, it’s possible he fell from a fishing boat into the open sea.

PUBLISHED 23 HOURS AGO

(L ) A sailor looking through his binoculars on board ; (R) A lifering with rope floating in the ocean (Representative Cover Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Denys Yelmanov ; (R) Holger Leue)

Some rescues at sea almost sound unbelievable. However, out in the middle of the ocean, 135 miles off the coast of Thailand, sailors spotted what they thought was “debris” in the waves. But when they realized it was something more, it left them stunned. A team of oil rig workers discovering an astonishing sight and engaging in a daring rescue mission is a story that will always be remembered.

Oil Industry Workers in Helmets and Orange Uniforms on Platform on Sea. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Atmadeep Das)

The Chevron workers were on an oil rig 135 miles off the coast of Thailand when they noticed something strange approaching their deck. Initially, they brushed it off as debris or fish, but soon realized that it was a dog swimming in the middle of the ocean, looking for help. The workers, including Vitisak Payalaw, noticed the poor animal and extended a pole to help him get in. But the pup was unable to get a good grip on the pole and kept slipping. The workers described watching the pup's eyes pleading for help.

A dog floating in water. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | SlimMars13)

According to iHeartDogs, Payalaw said, "His eyes were so sad. He just kept looking up just like he wanted to say, ‘please help me.’ At that moment, whoever saw this, they would just have to help." After a tense effort, the sailors finally managed to tie a rope and pull him to safety. The sweet canine was bathed, fed, and given fresh water. He was also named Boonrod, which means "the saved one." The dog was taken in by animal rescue group Watchdog Thailand to ensure he fully recovered and received the food, water, and attention he deserved. Although no one seems to know how the strong canine swimmer ended up so far from land, the theory that he may have fallen off a fishing boat does make sense.

Young woman petting sad dog in the animal shelter - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Oleksii Karamanov — Young woman petting sad dog in the animal shelter. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Oleksii Karamanov)

Boonrod's story reminds us of a 5-year-old dog, Amber, who leaped over an 8-foot fence. She swam a full mile from Sandbanks to Brownsea Island, staying there for three days while locals attempted to feed her. Spooked by people, she tried to swim back, but got caught in a strong current, pulling her farther out. A passing boat saw her struggling; a man jumped in and rescued her aboard. While she was rescued on time and was left with only a few bruises, her brave story of swimming a long mile shocked people around her.

According to Comparative Exercise Physiology, a 2021 study examined how dogs move differently in water compared to on land. The research involved eight healthy dogs from various breeds and analyzed their stride length, frequency, and joint movement during both trotting and swimming sessions, using underwater cameras to record their motion. The study found that dogs showcase greater joint flexion and a wider range of motion while swimming than when moving on land, though their stride length and frequency were reduced.