Hiker's dog lost in a wild New Zealand forest is rescued by helicopter after strangers fund search

A dog that couldn't be found when its owner was rescued while hiking in New Zealand has been located after a week thanks to a search funded by strangers.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — When a hiker fell from a 180-foot waterfall in wild New Zealand bush, rescuers were forced to evacuate the badly hurt woman without her dog, which couldn’t be found. After strangers raised thousands of dollars for a search, border collie Molly was flown to safety by a helicopter pilot who was determined to reunite pet and owner.

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A week earlier, an emergency rescue helicopter found the woman with bruises and lacerations after a fall at a rocky spot at the waterfall on the South Island’s West Coast. She was airlifted on March 24 but they were forced to leave without her pet.

Molly was bedraggled and hungry when she was found Tuesday, just a few meters from the spot where the hiker had been lucky to survive.