A dog that was drowning in an Aldergrove pond is alive today thanks to a 鈥済uardian angel鈥� and the dog鈥檚 owner thanks a man named Lars Sveinungsen for stepping up and coming to the rescue.

Heather Purcell of Aldergrove says she had taken her dog, Rex, to play at the Jackman ponds on 272 Street on Sunday morning.

Purcell said Rex, 鈥渃hased another dog鈥檚 ball into the water, went too far, and couldn鈥檛 make it back to shore and was drowning. Lars, with a border collie named Faith, rescued him.

鈥淗e not only ran in the water to save him, he gave Rex CPR and mouth to mouth. He saved his life. Rex was unconscious, no heart beat and not breathing and Lars saved him,鈥� said Purcell.

Purcell had posted her story on four Facebook pages in hopes of finding Lars and had also reached out through the Aldergrove Star. She had hoped to find out who he was so, 鈥淚 could properly thank him as I was too distraught when I left the park. I had left a note with my phone number on it on the only vehicle in the parking lot. I want to say thank you again!鈥�

The man was subsequently identified as Lars Sveinungsen and Purcell has been in contact wth him to express her gratitude.

(Video to come)