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IN PHOTO: A policeman and his dog work in a cordoned off area in a street near Norrebro Station following shootings in Copenhagen February 15, 2015. Danish police shot and killed a man in Copenhagen on Sunday they believe was responsible for two deadly attacks at an event promoting freedom of speech and on a synagogue. REUTERS/Martin Sylvest/Scanpix

New South Wales police dog Marco saved the life of a 65-year-old on Saturday. The man was reported missing after he had wandered away from an aged care facility on McPherson Street in Mardi.

The man went for a walk and went missing. The search started and went on for several hours. However, the search did not bring any result. Officers searched a nearby railway station, the surrounding bushland and local streets. It was the time when the dog squad was called in for additional help in the search process.

Marco was one of the police dogs who started searching for the missing man. Marco seemed to have been fixated on a particular area near the Wyong River. Around 12:55 am (Sunday March 22, 2015), the dog apparently forced Senior Constable Patrick Summers to check near an embankment around the river. Initial searches did not bring any result. However, when officers went through foliage around the river, they found the missing man clinging to a tree branch just above water.

The man was brought to land. The man suffered minor injuries and was treated by Ambulance Paramedics at the scene.

The dog was hailed as a hero in the force. NSW Police Force posted the incident on its Facebook page with Marco’s photo. Marco is seen sitting by a police car. The post was liked by more than 3,000 people when checked last. Facebook users highly appreciated Marco’s efforts.

User Annette Chapman writes that it is funny how police officers are often criticised while they are the first people who are called first when people are in trouble. Another user Phill Cheng recognises Marco as a “Beautiful Belgium Shepherd” and hopes that Constable Patrick gave the dog a treat.

Facebook user Cameron Saunders calls Marco “a superstar” and says that forces need more dogs as they can see and find what humans can’t. Saunders adds that dogs are willing to work 24/7 and can't be corrupted.

Earlier a police dog was killed in the Tunisian museum attack. The German Shepherd received a guard of honour while it was carried from the site.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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