DELHI TWP. -- An 80-year-old Delhi Township man has Murphy the dog to thank for helping him get out of a sticky situation.
Paul Paff had somehow fell into his septic tank behind his Pontius Road home, and was trapped 15 feet down in waist-high muck.
He waited for more than two hours Tuesday afternoon, calling for help.
No one heard his cries, except for a keen-eared canine that lived two doors down.
Murphy faced toward the hole where the man was trapped and wouldn't stop barking. "The dog was barking like he was being attacked or something, like he never barked before" said the dog's owner, Stacey Walsh.
"By the time I got over there, I could hear somebody yelling help but couldn't see anything, except a shoe. You couldn't see the hole until you got right up on top of it" said Walsh.
"He (Paff) had water up to his chest and he was shivering really bad and really scared" said Walsh.
She called 911, then lowered blankets to him.
When the Urban Search and Rescue Team arrived, it took them about 2 1/2 hours to free Paff. They said when they pulled him up, he was in good spirits and doing well.
"He's a tough old guy" said Delhi Township Fire Chief Bill Zoz. "He was down in there with sludge in the ground; it creates a suction around him so he can't get out and there was additional debris around his legs we had to get out before we brought him up."
Rescue crews estimate Paff had spent about five hours in the septic tank before he was freed. Paff was flown by Aircare to University Hospital, where he was treated Tuesday night. He is now listed in good condition.
Murphy got a special treat for his heroic efforts: his favorite food, swiss cheese! Walsh said they always knew he was a special dog. "He's a good dog. Support the SPCA; adopt a mutt, he might save your life" she said.
