Dog keeps stranded, injured hiker warm for 13 hours by lying on top of him

“This little dog is a real miracle."

An 8-month-old dog saved an injured hiker stranded in the Croatian mountains by laying on top of him for 13 hours to retain warmth until help arrived, Croatia's mountain rescue service announced in a recent Facebook post.

The Alaskan malamute, named North, was hiking with Grga Brkic when he fell and was unable to get back up. The two other hikers with them could not reach Grga and North, so they called for help.

“The minutes and seconds before they arrived were so slow,” Brkic told the Jutarnji List.

“This little dog is a real miracle."

It took more than two dozenfirst responders to reach the pair, stranded nearly 1,800 metres above sea level, The Guardian says.

North was uninjured in the incident, Brkic told local media.

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While the dog was a lifesaver in this crisis, Croatian officials do not recommend taking pets on hikes in treacherous winter conditions.

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