Overview
- Molly, located Tuesday by a Precision Helicopters team using a thermal camera, was lifted out by helicopter from the base of the 55‑meter waterfall.
- Her owner, hiker Jessica Johnston, fell on March 24 in the Arahura Valley and was airlifted with serious injuries after rescuers could not find the dog.
- A public fundraiser topped NZ$11,000, which paid for extra flying hours and thermal gear for the privately run search.
- The crew flew with a veterinary nurse, volunteers, and a companion dog named Bingo, and they said Molly was in good shape after likely living off small feral animals such as possums.
- Rescuers said it remains unclear whether Molly fell with Johnston or reached the spot later, and the effort highlights that animal rescues in New Zealand’s backcountry often rely on community funding and costly aircraft time of about NZ$50 a minute.