The wind swept over the beach in Long Beach, California, carrying with it the chill of a winter afternoon.
Lifeguards stood watching the gray sea, their eyes trained on the horizon, when something unusual caught their attention.
Through a pair of binoculars, they saw a small figure struggling in the waves — a dog, fighting against the icy pull of the ocean.
A Cold Ocean Rescue That No One Saw Coming
Moments earlier, a passerby had rushed to alert the Long Beach Fire Department’s Marine Safety Division.
A little dog had slipped free from somewhere near a parking lot and bolted across the sand before vanishing into the surf.
No one knew why she ran or how far she’d go, but now, there she was — a tiny silhouette battling the freezing current, paddling hard, desperate to stay above the surface.
The team moved fast. Marine safety officer Chase McColl grabbed his rescue board and pushed into the water while his partner, officer Devon Beebe, kept watch from shore.
The waves were rough, the sky dimming toward sunset, and the temperature hovered around fifty-six degrees — cold enough to make even the strongest swimmer struggle.
Yet they didn’t hesitate.
From the beach, McColl was just a small shape slicing through gray water. From his board, he could hear only the roar of the ocean and his own heartbeat as he searched for movement.
Then he spotted her — a trembling ball of fur drifting farther out, exhaustion slowing every stroke.
A Lifeguard’s Race Against the Tide
As McColl reached her, the dog’s head bobbed weakly above the surface. She turned toward him, as if sensing he’d come to help.
The lifeguard reached down, scooped her up, and held her close. For a moment, she just rested there — shivering, silent, and safe for the first time in what must have felt like forever.
“She swam straight to me,” McColl would later recall. “It was like she knew I was there for her.”
He pulled her onto the board, wrapping one arm around her to steady her tiny body as he paddled back toward land.
The journey felt longer than it was — the cold cutting through his wetsuit, the waves pushing back against his strokes.
But the thought of her sinking beneath that dark water was enough to keep him going.
Finally, they reached the shallows.
Onlookers cheered as McColl stood up, carrying the small dog in his arms. Her fur clung to her body, dripping seawater, her eyes wide and dazed.
The moment her paws touched solid sand, she froze — unsure of where she was or what had just happened.
The rescuers moved quickly, wrapping her in a towel and loading her into the lifeguard truck. Inside the warmth of the vehicle, the trembling slowly eased.
She didn’t bark or struggle; she just looked around quietly, the color returning to her face as her rescuers dried her off and spoke to her in soft tones.
From Ocean Survivor to Happy Reunion
Back at the lifeguard station, the little dog began to relax. Once she realized she was safe, a spark of energy returned.
Her tail flicked, her ears perked up, and soon she was trotting around the room, exploring corners and sniffing towels as if the whole ordeal had been a dream.
“She was scared at first,” McColl said later. “But after a few minutes, she started running around like she owned the place.”
Wrapped in warmth and surrounded by kind voices, she let her true personality shine — a playful, curious spirit who seemed grateful just to be alive.
When Animal Care Services arrived, they scanned her and discovered what everyone had been hoping for: she wasn’t a stray. Her name was Tofu, and she had a family waiting for her.
The call to her owners brought tears and relief.
Within hours, Tofu was nestled in the arms of the people who loved her most. Her family had been searching desperately, heartbroken and afraid they’d lost her forever. The reunion was full of hugs, laughter, and disbelief — their tiny girl, rescued from the open ocean, was home again.
As the sun dipped behind the horizon that evening, the lifeguards reflected on what had happened. It was one of those rescues that lingered — not because it was dramatic or heroic, but because it reminded them how fragile life can be.
One small mistake, one burst of fear, and a beloved pet could vanish into danger. But sometimes, kindness and quick action can rewrite the ending.
Tofu’s wild adventure through the waves ended the best way possible — not with loss, but with love.
And though she may never understand how close she came to tragedy, her rescuers hope that from now on, she’ll keep her paws planted firmly on dry sand.
Because that’s where she belongs — safe, loved, and home.