A tow truck driver in Saskatchewan, Canada, used his truck to rescue a moose he found stuck in ice. Photo courtesy of Rebel Towing
A tow truck driver in Saskatchewan, Canada, is going viral after turning an ordinary service call into a rescue for a stranded moose.
Clint Gottinger, owner of Rebel Towing, said he spotted the animal stuck in the ice near a junction not far from his house and knew the wait for his customers would have to continue.
“I thought, ‘everyone is gonna have to wait. I have to help this guy. I can’t stand to see him suffer. We gotta get him out,'” Gottinger told AccuWeather National Reporter Ali Reid.
The exhausted moose, later named Rebel, was trapped in a frozen waterway. Using his flatbed truck, a sling and help from neighbors, the driver worked to pull the animal free.
“He was so tired and exhausted. He just sat there waiting patiently,” Gottinger said.
Once the moose was out, the rescue took another unexpected turn. Gottinger called his wife for help.
“I said, ‘Honey, bring out some blankets. I’ve got a moose on my truck.'”
The moose spent the next few days recovering before disappearing by Monday morning. During that time, Gottinger said the animal had calmed enough to accept some affection.
“He would let me go up and scratch his chin and rub his nose and his ears. He liked that he would turn his head,” Gottinger said.
Even the motorists waiting on their own tow trucks reportedly did not mind the delay.
“Hopefully, he comes back because he still has a tow bill!”