Shipwrecked man rescues dog before wife

A South African man has saved his dog before going back for his wife when their yacht shipwrecked on a dangerous stretch of ocean.

Graham and Sheryl Anley – along with their Jack Russell Terrier, Rosie – hit a reef as they battled seven-metre waves at Cebe on the Transkei coast, one of South Africa’s most dangerous stretches of ocean.

National Sea Rescue Institute North London station commander Georff McGregor said all three were wearing life jackets.

Eve Rosie was wearing a special doggy life jacket, complete with an emergency strobe light.

"As the incident happened Graham sent a Mayday radio distress call and activated the EPIRB (Global Positioning Distress beacon) but they were immediately forced to abandon ship," said Mr McGregor.

"He first swam Rosie ashore safely before returning for his wife, whose safety line had snagged on the steering gear," said Mr McGregor.

One the trio were safely ashore, Mr Anley was able to raise the alarm and the three were airlifted to East London sea rescue base.