HUNTER RESCUES DOG FROM 70-METER-DEEP CAVE

RIBNIK, OCTOBER 25 /SRNA/ - Milorad Smiljanić, head of the Ribnik hunting section, descended into a 70-meter-deep cave near Vučija Poljana, in the municipality of Ribnik, to rescue Astor, a hunting dog that had fallen into it.

Aleksandar Vrtunić, a member of the Ribnik Hunting Association, told SRNA that the call to rescue the hunting dog had set everyone in motion.

"Friends called me asking for help rescuing Astor, a hunting dog that had fallen into a deep cave. When we arrived at the scene and inspected the pit, we noticed that the first 15 meters had only a gentle slope, after which the ground dropped sharply into a vertical shaft leading straight to the bottom, where the dog was trapped in darkness and cold," Vrtunić recounted.

According to him, more than 10 people joined the rescue effort, but no one dared to descend into the pit because rocks were constantly falling.

"The Ribnik Fire Department came to our aid and provided equipment that saved the day. A vehicle equipped with a winch became our lifeline," Vrtunić said.

He added that only one man dared to descend into the pit: Milorad Smiljanić, the head of their hunting section.

"With this act, he showed that hunting is not just a hobby, but also a love for animals and every living creature," Vrtunić emphasized.

He added that in this race against time and nature, amid adverse weather conditions, everyone had contributed to the rescue effort.

Vrtunić emphasized that, alongside the experienced hunters and firefighters, special recognition and praise were also deserved by a boy, Uroš Davidović, who worked like the most experienced rescue operative, bringing the necessary tools, ropes, and everything else needed to bring the operation to a successful conclusion.

"The dog rescue operation lasted three hours, which felt like an eternity to everyone involved," Vrtunić said, thanking everyone who helped save the dog.