Taiwan rescue dog ‘Iron Hero’ finds two earthquake survivors on his first mission

Four-year-old Tie Hsiung braved nails and glass to find a survivor who had been trapped for 15 hours

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Rescue dog Tie Hsiung (“Iron Hero” in English) is patted by his trainer, Li Chun-sheng. The four-year-old Labrador rescued two people from beneath rubble after the recent Taiwan earthquakes. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:39am, 10 Feb 2018Updated: 3:40am, 10 Feb 2018

A golden Labrador on his first-ever mission has won praise across Taiwan for finding two people who were trapped under a damaged building after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country.

Four-year-old Tie Hsiung, whose name translates to “Iron Hero”, braved dangerous aftershocks and terrain after the quake struck the popular eastern tourist city of Hualien on Tuesday, killing 10 people.

Thanks to the determined dog, one person trapped for 15 hours was finally located relatively unscathed and pulled from the wreckage of the precariously leaning Marshal Hotel.

Tie Hsiung rescued both people – who had been trapped for 15 hours -from the partially collapsed Marshal Hotel (pictured) in Hualien, Taiwan, after the city was hit by a 6.4-magnitude quake late on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Earthquake search and rescue dog trainers (second from left to right) Chou Tsung-chi (with dog Hsiao Chiang), Lin You-zhun (with dog Tuei Tuei); Li Chun-sheng (with dog Tie Hsiung) and their colleague and dog (left, name unavailable) pose in Hualien. Photo: AFP

The terrain was quite dangerous with glass and nails. I thought he may be too afraid, but he was able to overcome this

Li Chun-sheng, trainer of hero dog Tie Hsiung

“The terrain was quite dangerous with glass and nails,” 28-year-old trainer Li Chun-sheng told AFP, beaming with pride.

Taiwan rescue dog ‘Iron Hero’ finds two earthquake survivors on his first mission

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Four-year-old Tie Hsiung braved nails and glass to find a survivor who had been trapped for 15 hours

Four-year-old Tie Hsiung braved nails and glass to find a survivor who had been trapped for 15 hours