At a glance

  • Police were called after a man in his eighties appeared confused and called for help near Rookley on the Isle of Wight.
  • Police dog Bella picked up his scent and tracked him for almost a mile.
  • The route crossed a bridlepath, woodland and three fields.
  • Bella found the man trapped in thick brambles near Long Lane.
  • Officers freed him and he was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Police dog Bella found a vulnerable missing man trapped in brambles after tracking him for almost a mile across the Isle of Wight. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the man had fallen, become wedged in the undergrowth and could not reach safety without help.

The constabulary published its account on August 26. The Telegraph, Island Echo and Isle of Wight Observer later reported the rescue from the police account. No name was released for the man, and Buddylio is not publishing details that could identify him.

Bella followed the route through woodland and fields

A member of the public contacted police after seeing a man in his eighties near Rookley. Police said he appeared confused, was calling for help and could not communicate clearly. He then wandered away during hot weather.

Bella and her handler, Police Constable Gemma Johnson, were sent to search. Bella picked up a scent and led officers along a bridlepath, through woodland and across three fields. The police account says the track covered almost a mile before Bella turned into a field beside Long Lane.

The man was found unable to free himself

Bella located the man in thick brambles at the far side of the field. Police said he had fallen and become stuck in the undergrowth. He was also showing signs of dehydration by the time the search team reached him.

Officers brought him out safely and arranged for him to go to a hospital as a precaution. The public police statement did not provide a later medical update.

A working partnership made the search possible

The constabulary credited both Bella's scent work and Johnson's ability to read the dog's behavior throughout the track. Search dogs do not work independently. Their handlers monitor changes in pace, posture and direction while managing the route and keeping the team coordinated.

This case ended with a safe recovery because a member of the public raised the alarm, officers responded and the dog team maintained the track across changing terrain. Readers can find more verified working dog and rescue reports in Buddylio's Dogs coverage.

Sources

How we reported this: Buddylio reviewed the named sources, checked the organizations and figures shown above, and added context for animal lovers. Any illustration is labeled and does not depict the actual animals or scene. Articles are editorial content, not veterinary advice.