Woman and dog rescue man from Leie in Harelbeke: "Ginger gets all the treats tonight"

A man was rescued from the Leie river in Harelbeke on Friday afternoon after accidentally cycling into the water. The timely intervention of a young woman and her dog ensured the man was pulled to safety before emergency services arrived.

Eline Deblaere, from Kuurne, was walking her dog Ginger when she heard cries for help. Upon reaching the riverbank, she saw a man in the water. While others gathered, attempts to help the man with a stick proved unsuccessful. It was then that Ginger played a crucial role.

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He immediately offered his leash. That's how we could lift the man out of the water. Ginger will get all the treats he wants tonight.

Deblaere recounted how Ginger immediately offered his leash, which they used to help lift the man out of the water. "Ginger will get all the treats he wants tonight," Deblaere said with a laugh. The man escaped the incident unharmed, though Deblaere sustained a minor scratch under her eye from the man's sunglasses as he emerged from the water.

The man reportedly rode into the Leie due to absentmindedness, along with his bicycle and backpack. Authorities are considering using a dive team to recover the submerged items. The incident has also revived a debate initiated by the opposition party N-VA regarding the lack of safety barriers along the Leie river in Harelbeke.

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I heard someone calling for help from afar. It really went through bone and marrow.