Teen Hero Saves Dog in Southern California Harbor and Reunites Him With Family
June 22, 2026
A young hero and his friends prevented a potential disaster by rescuing a dog struggling in a Southern California harbor, leading to a heartwarming reunion.
Mateo Akerman rescues George
Fifteen-year-old Mateo Akerman was enjoying an afternoon with friends on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, when they spotted George, a dog, dangerously close to traffic. Soon after, George fell into the water.
Initially, George managed to paddle on his own, but the group’s concern grew as they noticed the dog struggling to return to the shore.
Mateo acted swiftly, diving into the harbor without hesitation and swimming to George. As the dog grew too tired to continue, Mateo carried him back to safety. Friends recorded the entire rescue on video.
Once on solid ground, Mateo and his friends wrapped George in a towel to warm him and checked his collar for information. They promptly contacted the dog’s owner using the phone number provided and stayed with George until his owner arrived.
George was soon safely reunited with his thankful family.
“I have two dogs myself which I rescued when I was younger so I have an incredibly deep love for dogs. So when I saw a dog in danger I knew that I had to act because I know that if that was my dog I would want someone to do the same,” Mateo shared with CBS LA.
Happily, both George and the rescuers remained unharmed, and George quickly bounced back from his unexpected dip in the water.
