Dog Ginger’s Leash Saves Man from Drowning in Harelbeke
A 43-year-old man is safe today thanks to the quick thinking of a passerby and the unlikely heroism of her rescue dog, Ginger, who willingly offered his leash to pull the drowning man from the Leie River in Harelbeke, West Flanders, on Friday afternoon.
According to VRT NWS, the incident occurred shortly before 2:30 PM on July 24, when the man, cycling along the quay in the Watermolenstraat between Harelbeke and Kuurne, accidentally veered off the path and plunged into the river with his mountain bike. Unable to climb the high quay wall, he began calling for help.
A Rescue Takes Shape
Eline Deblaere, a 43-year-old resident of Kuurne, was walking her dog Ginger along the riverbank when she heard the cries. “I heard someone calling for help from afar,” she told VRT NWS. “It really went through bone and marrow.” She immediately ran toward the sound.
By the time she arrived, several bystanders had already gathered at the scene. The group first attempted to help the man using a stick, but the effort failed as the quay wall was too high for the panicking victim to reach. “I feverishly thought about how we could help him in another way,” Eline recalled in an interview with HLN. “And then the inspiration came.”
Ginger’s Decisive Contribution
That inspiration was Ginger’s leash. Without hesitation, Eline detached the leash from her dog and lowered it down to the man in the water. With help from other bystanders, she was able to pull him to safety. A nearby witness directed them to a ladder further along the quay wall, which made the final extraction possible.
It was Ginger’s cooperation that made the rescue possible. “He immediately gave up his leash,” Eline said. “That’s how we could lift the man out of the water. Ginger gets all the treats he wants tonight.”
The dog, himself a rescue animal adopted from Romania just a few months earlier, seemed to understand the urgency of the moment. “Ginger allowed that, somewhat to my surprise,” Eline told HLN.
Aftermath and a Minor Injury
Emergency services — firefighters and police — arrived shortly after the rescue. A firefighter diver later recovered the man’s bright orange mountain bike from the murky water, though his backpack was never found. The rescued man was checked by paramedics but did not require hospitalization. He wrung out his T-shirt and was given a ride home by police.
Eline sustained a minor scratch under her right eye when the man accidentally bumped into her sunglasses as he climbed out of the water. “That’s a small price to pay if I can save someone from the water,” she said.
A Hero’s Welcome
Ginger has been celebrated across Belgian media as a local hero. Reader comments on HLN’s coverage have been overwhelmingly positive, with one reader writing: “Fantastic people and fire brigade. But dog Ginger really steals the show.” Another called for medals: “Dear Eline and Ginger, you deserve a big hats off. You deserve a medal for courage and self-sacrifice.”
Renewed Safety Concerns
The incident has also reignited a local political debate. The N-VA opposition party in Harelbeke had previously raised questions about the absence of safety barriers along the Leie River. According to VRT NWS, this discussion is expected to intensify following the near-tragedy. One HLN reader questioned: “Why isn’t that place fenced off with a balustrade or something similar?” Another noted that lifebuoys once present along the river had since been removed.
What’s Next
For now, Harelbeke’s newest hero is enjoying his well-earned rewards. Ginger, who went from a miserable existence in Romania to a loving home in Belgium, can now add “lifesaver” to his story. As Eline promised him: all the treats he wants.
The city of Harelbeke is expected to face renewed pressure to address the missing safety measures along the riverbank, as residents and local politicians alike call for action to prevent future incidents.