Trembling and hurt within the garden as a thunderstorm poured down, Ron Griffiths, 90 years old, feared the worst, for his pleas for help were muted by rain and hail.
However, unable to move after suffering a harsh fall, the retired farmer suddenly experienced relief as something warm— and fuzzy — settled beside him.
In an incredible display of loyalty that redefines the notion “a man’s best friend” — it was Mr. Griffiths’ adopted dog Molly who realized something was wrong when no one else did.
The labradoodle nestled near Mr. Griffiths, offering warmth — and saving his life — until help showed up 24 hours later. An alert was raised when he didn’t respond to his meals on wheels service.
This dangerous incident took place on August 6 when Mr. Griffiths came back to his Attadale residence from shopping and went to get his tools from the garden.
He slipped, striking his head around 10:30 am.
Dazed and struggling to get around, Mr. Griffiths “butt-scooted” for several hours over the pavement and up some stairs until he made it to his semi-enclosed patio.
The former livestock and wheat grower mentioned he couldn’t unlock his door, and as the harsh storm came, the temperature plummeted.
Camera IconRon Griffiths was elated at first sight of Molly outside the hospital. Depicted here is the moment they reunited. Credit: Provided/Unknown
“Throughout the night, the storm was so powerful that the patio began to leak, and I pressed my back against the table — it was very uncomfortable,” Mr. Griffiths recounted.
He spoke of Molly the labradoodle — with her “fluffy coat” — remaining by his side, keeping him warm through thunder, hail, and rain.
“The dog snuggled close beside me . . . I was calling out to the neighbors, but naturally, with the storm, they couldn’t hear,” he stated.
Nearly 24 hours after his initial fall, meal delivery personnel knocked on his door but weren’t able to find Mr. Griffiths.
His daughter Fiona Rumsa — who usually takes care of Mr. Griffiths but was away house-sitting — was eventually made aware of the situation by the staff.
She hurried to find her father outdoors with a head injury, badly bruised, and very cold.
Once two ambulances arrived at the scene, Mr. Griffiths was taken to Hollywood Hospital, where he spent a number of weeks recovering.
“There was intermittent pain, but the chill was the most unbearable — it was quite frightening,” he expressed.
“The next day, let me tell you, my bum was really sore.
“I am truly astonished she didn’t stray away, Molly stayed by me until morning . . . she sensed something was wrong right away.”
Mr. Griffiths believes he might not have made it without Molly.
Camera IconRon Griffiths at Hollywood Hospital with his grandson, Matt. Credit: Provided/Provided
“I’m still alive, and I can hardly comprehend how . . . the storm was so severe that I feared the roof might collapse on me,” he confessed.
“Every night I passed by the nurses in the hospital, they would comment: ‘That’s the old man with the dog that stayed with him and rescued him that night’.”
Ms. Rumsa claimed Molly had been the “best present” for her father. Initially named magic, Mr. Griffiths began calling her “Magic Molly”.
Ms. Rumsa noted the 10-year-old dog’s name is more apt now than ever after her miraculous act of saving her dad.
“He (Dad) stayed in the hospital for approximately four weeks and lost around seven or eight kilos — I truly doubted Dad would survive,” Fiona mentioned.
“She was somewhat of a star at the hospital — they all knew the story of this dog rescuing him.”
Upon Mr. Griffiths’ eventual reunion with Molly, it was the “first time his face had brightened in weeks,” she commented.
The duo expressed their heartfelt thanks to paramedics, hospital workers, and the Meals on Wheels team who aided them.