Ski accident survivor shares how his dog’s tail saved his life when 16 broken bones left him unable to move

A winter outing behind their cabin in Collingwood, Ontario, nearly became fatal for a man named Dave after he suffered 16 broken bones. But his Golden Retriever, Phoebe, played an unexpected role in keeping him alive. His wife, Claire Cameron, shared the incident online, explaining how her husband survived a severe skiing accident and how his dog became his life-saver. In a remarkable twist, it was not equipment or rescue teams, but Phoebe’s steady presence and tail that became his lifeline as he struggled to move.

As reported by Outside Online on February 3, 2025, the accident happened when Dave and Phoebe set out on a forested slope behind their cabin. Phoebe, named after a "Friends" character, often followed Dave on short ski runs before returning home. On their fourth descent, Dave’s ski clipped a downed log, sending him forward into a maple tree. Claire shared that her husband had skied on volcanoes and glaciers, but danger had never caught up with him, until that day. 

When he regained consciousness about 350 feet down the slope, he realized he could barely move and could not reach his phone, which was buried in a back pocket. His collarbone had been crushed, and eight of the broken bones were ribs. Temperatures were well below zero, and fading daylight added urgency. "It was just before 4 p.m. The light was flattening; the sun would set in another 30 minutes." Phoebe circled him nervously, panting and alert. Then, using her leash as a makeshift sling, Dave stabilized his injured arm, grabbed a ski pole in his free hand, and began inching forward.

Phoebe became his guiding force, moving a few steps, then pausing to wait for him. “Go home,” Dave told her, hoping her arrival at the cabin would alert someone, but she stayed close, leading him deliberately. Dave fixed his gaze on her tail, using it as a visual anchor, as it was the only thing visible in the dark. About halfway up the slope, he struggled to catch his breath and feared his lung had been damaged. Phoebe’s careful pace created a route he could manage, avoiding the steepest and most dangerous terrain. Step by step, she led him uphill. Her presence allowed him to focus on moving forward despite excruciating pain, broken bones, and the cold, each movement bringing him closer to the cabin. When the dog stopped and he finally looked up, he was surprised to see the house. 

When they finally reached the cabin, help arrived quickly. In the emergency ward, scans confirmed 16 fractures, including injuries along his vertebrae, but fortunately, no permanent damage. Now, two years later in 2025, Dave has fully recovered, though the experience left him more cautious. Claire recalled a poignant moment in the hospital, after her husband received Fentanyl from a nurse while he was lucid. Dave softly whispered, “Phoebe saved my life.” Later, Claire retraced their tracks and noticed that Phoebe had chosen a gradual path rather than the steepest route, showing how she guided him carefully. Her loyalty and instinct undoubtedly made the difference between survival and tragedy.