She got the second chance she needed.
By Stephen Messenger
Published on June 27, 2026 at 5:39 PM
This week, what began as a routine ferry ride on Brazil’s Amazon River ended in an extraordinary rescue that passengers and crew are unlikely to forget.
It all began with a chance discovery.
While cruising the river, people aboard the ferry spotted a large, fallen tree adrift in the water in the distance. Though not an uncommon sight, given the lush forest lining the waterway, this log was different. An animal was perched atop it, stranded with no obvious way to reach shore.
As footage of the incident shows, crewmembers leaped into action to save her life:
Once safely aboard the ferry, the exhausted dog settled in for a rest — but this would only be the beginning of her second chance.
According to Patrick Nascimento, the crew member who ultimately pulled the dog from the water, she’s since been named Yara and has been adopted by her new mom:
“[Yara] is doing well,” Nascimento said. “She’s already taken her medication and is being monitored by the vet.”
How the dog wound up stranded atop the floating tree in the middle of the river is anyone’s guess. But her lucky encounter with the passing ferry almost certainly saved her life.