Overview
- Hans Nagrath’s 2-year-old goldendoodle, Benny, bolted after geese and leapt into the Charles River during Monday’s Boston Marathon crowds.
- Nagrath followed him into water near 40 degrees with wind and strong current and soon feared he would drown.
- As his strength faded, he pushed Benny toward the dock until bystanders could reach them.
- Onlookers pulled the dog up first, then helped Nagrath out, and they used a Boston Marathon blanket to warm Benny; both later recovered.
- Nagrath says he regrets letting Benny roam near the river and wishes he had called 911 or found a flotation device, as a bystander’s video of the rescue spread online.