LISTEN: Community rescues dog trapped in Bluff manhole
Updated Aug. 6, 2026, 3:56 p.m. | By Lauren Hendricks A dog trapped for hours in a deep manhole on Durban's Bluff has been rescued thanks to a joint effort…
The Full Story
Updated Aug. 6, 2026, 3:56 p.m. | By Lauren Hendricks
A dog trapped for hours in a deep manhole on Durban's Bluff has been rescued thanks to a joint effort by community volunteers and emergency responders.
A dog that spent hours trapped in a deep manhole on Durban's Bluff is alive today thanks to a community rescue involving volunteers, medics and other emergency responders.
The rescue unfolded late Wednesday night.
Community group Bluff RTL8 received frantic calls about the stranded animal.
Its member Shaun Venter has told Newswatch that attempts to get help overnight were unsuccessful.
The rescue operation continued on Thursday morning.
"When they got down there, one of our community members, Jean-Pierre Kruger… climbed down the manhole with assistance [from] the members... They weren't sure whether the dog was aggressive or not, so they put a muzzle on the dog. The dog was then handed up to the members on top."
The animal was safely brought to the surface.
It was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and later transferred to the SPCA while efforts continue to trace its owner.
"The fact that it was a dog makes no difference. It's a living being and if we can't look after the animals in our community, what does it say about a community as a whole? Every life, every living being is important," says Venter.
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
Sharks Rugby enters a bold new era as East Coast Breakfast goes LIVE from The Shark Tank
East Coast Breakfast joined Sharks Rugby at the Shark Tank as they unveile…
KZN South Coast has the fish this week
Mixed conditions haven't stopped the action along the KZN coast this …