Diver Captures Unexpected Underwater Encounter With Seal In Now-Viral Video

There's an entire fascinating world to explore under the ocean, which is why water activities such as scuba diving are so appealing to a lot of people. People who enjoy being in the water and exploring their surroundings will tell you there’s nothing else like it.

Part of the appeal of diving is that you can never really know exactly what you’re going to experience as you first get into the water. We're about to meet a diver who had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter on what seemed like an ordinary outing.

Gary Grayson Is An Experienced Diver

Scuba divers
ebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As an experienced diver and a videographer, Gary Grayson has certainly seen his share of amazing things over the years. One experience was particularly unexpected, and it involved an incredible interaction with an Atlantic gray seal.

Gary's encounter with the seal left him awestruck and his video of the event quickly went viral, with people all over the world fascinated by it. That’s not hard to believe, because Gary’s chance encounter was so extraordinary, as you'll soon learn.

ADVERTISEMENT

England's Isles Of Scilly

ADVERTISEMENT
Life On The Isles Of Scilly - Britain's Most South Westerly Islands
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Gary Grayson is an adventure-seeker and diving enthusiast from Worsley, England. In 2014, he decided to go on a trip with some friends from the diving club where he's a member.

ADVERTISEMENT

The group traveled to the Isles of Scilly in 2014. This is a group of islands off the Cornish coast in southwest England. The archipelago is known for its sandy beaches and lush foliage, and there's even a 17th-century castle tower for visitors to explore.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Variety Of Wildlife

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
UK - Scilly Isles - Seagull and flowerpot
Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images
Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's quite a trek to get to the Scilly Islands. Visitors can either arrive via boat, small plane, or helicopter. But the trip is worth it! In fact, AFAR Magazine called it "Britain's Most Beautiful Hidden Secret" in 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

The archipelago is home to a lot of different wildlife, such as seabirds. Underwater, divers can expect to see many different species of fish as they explore the area's shipwrecks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Grey Atlantic Seals Also Live In The Area

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
grey seal
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Beyond the diverse population of sea birds and fish, there are also some mammals who call the Scilly Islands their home. Bats, hedgehogs, shrews, and more are commonly sighted in the area.

ADVERTISEMENT

Grey seals are also natives to the islands. These seals, also referred to as "horseheads," "true seals," or "earless seals," are found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. Gary and his diving buddies were going to have a very unique encounter with a grey seal on this fateful day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Suddenly Face-To-Face

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-3-78278
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

On this particular day, Gary and his diving partner disappeared under the water's surface as they ventured out to explore. What they saw completely took them aback — they suddenly found themselves face-to-face with a pair of Atlantic grey seals that appeared out of the depths.

ADVERTISEMENT

These seals can be rather large, and with any wild animal, it's impossible to predict their behavior. But Gary and his friend were experienced and knew how to react to their unexpected visitors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Were They In Danger?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-5-50976-72887
Andrew Bunday/Flickr
Andrew Bunday/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

Scuba divers, or anyone who spends time around wild animals, are taught not to disturb the creatures. Although seals are known to act playfully, they can also become aggressive if they feel threatened in any way.

ADVERTISEMENT

And some of their "games" can be dangerous for humans, particularly when they're fed or petted. Some seals will start playing biting games, which can be quite dangerous to the humans they're interacting with.

ADVERTISEMENT

Out Comes The Camera!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-4-14646-54883
Andrew Bunday/Flickr
Andrew Bunday/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

As Gary and his scuba diving partner wisely stayed calm and still, the two curious seals came closer to investigate. Being a videographer, Gary knew that this encounter could yield some really great, once-in-a-lifetime footage if he was able to capture the interaction.

ADVERTISEMENT

So he quietly took out his camera and started recording, not having any idea what was going to happen next with the seemingly friendly pair of grey seals.

ADVERTISEMENT

Capturing It All

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-6-36747
star5112/Flickr
star5112/Flickr
ADVERTISEMENT

Gary and his friend had been approached by the seals as they swam through a kelp forest. While seals are known to frequent these thick underwater forests, it wasn't any less surprising to the men when they were approached at such a close distance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fortunately, Gary's friend knew how to operate the camera and was able to capture their amazing encounter. Pretty soon, the entire world would get to see footage of their wildlife encounter, but at this point, there was no way they could have known how thrilling things were about to get.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Curious Seals Were Still Young

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-8-20023
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The now-viral video shot by the men that fateful day stars out showing one of the seals right next to the camera, giving the audience a good look at the sea creatures.

ADVERTISEMENT

As stated earlier, eastern Atlantic grey seals can grow to be quite large, with males reaching more than seven feet long and weighing between 370-680 pounds! Females are smaller. The seals that had surprised Gary and his diving buddy were much smaller than that, meaning they were young.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Pups Could Get Skittish

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-7-11600
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Once the divers realized that their seal visitors were just young pups, they knew that it was especially important to stay calm and still so as not to frighten or startle the animals.

ADVERTISEMENT

Young pups are more likely to be skittish and Gary didn't want them to take off and end their interaction early! So he and his diving partner continued to stay calm, with minimal movements that might frighten one or both of the seals away.

ADVERTISEMENT

Becoming More Comfortable

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-9-34288
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The experienced divers were excited to capture such amazing footage of their once-in-a-lifetime adventure with the wild seals. And it seemed that the seals must have felt the same way because they began warming up to Gary and his friend.

ADVERTISEMENT

As they became more comfortable in the divers' presence, the seals began acting increasingly playful. They even started circling the men in a friendly, inquisitive way! Their individual personalities were starting to show through.

ADVERTISEMENT

Still An Unpredictable Situation

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-11-39761-17519
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although most seals are known to be friendly around humans (unless they're provoked or sense that they're in danger), they're still wild animals. And considering that these two grey seals were still pups, they were even more likely to be skittish and behave in unpredictable ways.

ADVERTISEMENT

And despite the fact that Gary and his friend had plenty of diving experience between the two of them, neither had ever had anything like this happen to them! This interaction was way more up-close-and-personal than any they'd had with wild animals before.

ADVERTISEMENT

Playful And Curious

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-15-80405-15653
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It was clear from the very beginning of the underwater interaction that the seal pups were extremely curious. As they got closer to the men and even started to circle them playfully, they continued to warm up and seemed to become pretty comfortable around the humans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many people compare seal pups to land dogs, due to their playful natures and even those large puppy-dog eyes. Even so, Gary and his friend still didn't have a clue how this encounter would turn out.

ADVERTISEMENT

New Friends?!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
seal-diver-73516
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The seal pups were so close to Gary and his diving partner that they couldn't even believe it. They were glad that they were recording all this wildlife action on video! The seals seemed to have become so comfortable around the men that it was almost like they wanted to be friends.

ADVERTISEMENT

And as they continued to feel safer around the humans, they swam closer. Gary and his friend could scarcely believe what they were experiencing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Saying Hello, Up Close And Personal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
diver-seal-ad-74991
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The seals moved ever closer to the men as they playfully swam in circles. Gary was stunned by what happened next. One of the young seals approached and actually seemed to reach out with its flippers. It even nudged him!

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary decided to go along with what the seal seemed to be suggesting, and he reached his own human hand out and shook the seal's flipper! It was seal-to-human contact!

ADVERTISEMENT

An Unexpected "Handshake"

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-10-55124
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

After they "shook hands" as if they were greeting each other at a party, the seal seemed as if it didn't want to let go of Gary's hand. Instead, it held onto the diver's arm with its flippers. Gary let the seal call the shots and went along with it.

ADVERTISEMENT

As Gary remained still in the water, the seal began rubbing its head and neck on his arm. The men were really unsure what to make of this unexpected behavior.

ADVERTISEMENT

Something Strange Seemed To Be Going On

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-12-51224
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Typically, it takes days (or more) for humans to gain the trust of wildlife. With seals, a diver should expect to spend several days with a pod of seals before the animals will begin to trust them.

ADVERTISEMENT

So it seemed quite odd that these two young seals had become comfortable with the men so quickly, let alone the fact that they were brave enough to physically interact with the divers. One has to wonder, were the seals being friendly or was this a sign of aggression?

ADVERTISEMENT

Were Things About To Take A Turn For The Worse?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-14-60832
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

While there are no hard rules to interacting with wildlife, a seal that gets as close to a human as these ones were with Gary and his friend could very likely be exhibiting aggressive behavior.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fortunately, the experienced divers knew that they'd have the best outcome if they remained calm. And that tactic certainly seemed to work, because after nudging Gary's arm, one of the seals started play-biting at his wetsuit. The other seal continued to swim in close circles around the men.

ADVERTISEMENT

Out On Their Own Adventure

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Two young grey seals / gray seals swimming in the Ythan Estuary.
ARTERRA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ARTERRA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Gary and his diving buddy marveled as they watched the seals gliding effortlessly through the water. After all, anyone who has seen a seal waddle around on dry land might be surprised to see how graceful they are in their own element under the water's surface.

ADVERTISEMENT

Given that the pups seemed to be so young, it was possible that this was one of their first adventures without their mother! Typically, seal pups spend about four months with their mother before going out on their own to explore.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting Even More Playful With Gary

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-16-85824
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

After being put at ease by the divers' calm demeanors, the playful seal pup grew even braver and more forward with its interactions with Gary. First, it was the "handshake," then nuzzling its head on Gary's arm. What would happen next with this seal that seemed to have no fear of humans?

ADVERTISEMENT

For a while, it continued rubbing its head on Gary's hand and kept up the friendly and playful nibbling at his wetsuit. And then, it went a step further!

ADVERTISEMENT

Just Like A Puppy Dog

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-24-96056
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

By now, Gary had been interacting with the playful seal for quite some time and he'd figured something out: that the seal was enjoying the encounter. It really seemed to like the feeling of having its head rubbed, since it kept nuzzling Gary's hand and arm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary decided to try something daring and he began patting and scratching the seal's head, almost like it was a regular Labrador Retriever or any other "land canine." This went on for a while, and don't forget that it was all captured on video!

ADVERTISEMENT

Reading The Seal's Body Language

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-21-22102-19178
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The "friendship" between the scuba divers and the seals had developed so quickly that Gary couldn't believe his good fortune. It had been magical to interact with these friendly wild animals in such a close and personal way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary and his friend were not about to forget this day anytime soon, especially because of what was still to come. The seal started making motions and Gary thought it almost seemed like it was trying to communicate with him.

ADVERTISEMENT

Message From A Seal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-18-36730
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

There was no telling how much more time Gary and his diving buddy would get to spend with the seals. Even if the sea creatures suddenly had a change of heart and swam away, the divers were certain that their underwater adventure was one to cherish forever.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fortunately, the seals weren't ready to take off just yet. Gary continued to pat the one seal's neck, and as he did so, the creature kept biting gently at his glove. After a few minutes of this, a lightbulb went off in Gary's head.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary Finally Pieced Together The Clues

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-20-84717
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Aha! As the seal continued to try and send a "message" to Gary, the diver suddenly had a pretty good idea that he knew what the gentle creature wanted. The seal turned over onto its back, exposing its tummy just like a dog would!

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary knew then that the seal wanted a good old-fashioned belly rub and he was more than happy to indulge it! He was having such an amazing interaction with the wild creature, he could hardly believe it was real.

ADVERTISEMENT

Belly-Rub Bliss

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-23-24719-78627
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

It was very clear that the seal was loving every moment of the belly-rubbing that Gary was treating it to. Gary must have wondered whether this was the first time the seal had gotten a belly-scratching from a human!

ADVERTISEMENT

The belly-rub went on for several moments before the seal suddenly made a move and swam back up to Gary's face. What was it trying to communicate to him now, he wondered?

ADVERTISEMENT

... And A Chin Scratching

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-25-59338
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

After several minutes of getting a belly-rub, the seal decided to try something else. It swam back up to Gary's face, practically begging for a chin-scratching from his new diver friend.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the video footage of this incredible wild animal encounter, it appears that the seal is smiling widely during the chin-scratching session. And at that point, the second seal seemed to want to get involved in this fun playtime.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Other Seal Was Also Playful

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-28-27944
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

As the first seal continued to play with Gary and give his gloves and hands friendly little nibbles, the second seal decided to come over and it started sniffing Gary's feet. He was now having playtime with not one, but two grey seal pups!

ADVERTISEMENT

Playtime can't last forever, though, and eventually, the first seal started to swim away. The second seal followed suit, leaving their human friends behind in the underwater kelp forest.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gary's Video Went Viral

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-26-39156
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

As expected, the divers' video of their incredible seal encounter soon went viral and Gary was contacted by different news outlets to talk about the experience. In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, he confessed that he "was absolutely loving" every minute of the experience.

ADVERTISEMENT

"If the truth be told, I'm a bit of an adrenalin junky," he continued. "Before that, I was into sky-diving, I had done aerobatics. I tend to live life on the edge. But this was certainly up there with anything I have ever done.

ADVERTISEMENT

Truly A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity For A Diver

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-27-12855
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Gary Grayson had been scuba diving all over the world -- from England to Mexico and Cuba and beyond -- the businessman feels that getting this level of interaction with a wild animal was one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The grey seal came across and had five minutes with me, kind of thing. Then another was climbing up my leg. I'm an experienced diver but I have never known anything like that." he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Millions Of Views Worldwide

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scuba-seal-encounter-29-63928
YouTube
YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Gary and his friend weren't the only ones who were blown away by their unique and unexpected encounter with the Atlantic grey seals that day.

ADVERTISEMENT

The video they took of Gary playing with the seal has been viewed almost 16 million times on YouTube, with many thousands of likes. And that's hopefully not the last we'll hear from Gary, as he said in an interview that he was planning more dives.

ADVERTISEMENT

These Fishermen Discovered Something Out Of The Ordinary On An Iceberg

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
out of the ordinary
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Mallory Harrigan, Cliff Russell, and Allan Russell always loved going fishing together. The trio loved it so much that they even bought a boat together to start their own commercial fishing business.

ADVERTISEMENT

Living in Canada, they knew what kind of fish they could catch and what the local markets and restaurants would be interested in buying. What they didn't know was what to expect when they began hitting the waters every day in hopes of a good haul.

ADVERTISEMENT

More Than Just A Business

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
More Than Just A Business
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Cliff, Mallory, and Allan were more than just business partners. They were friends, and they would help each other during the longest days and hardest times. Their new business could have tested that friendship, but it never did.

ADVERTISEMENT

Every day, after hours on the sea, they would come home with new bumps and bruises on their bodies. No one would complain, and no one would quit. They loved each other and were always excited to show up for the job the next day.

ADVERTISEMENT

That Fateful Morning

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Fateful morning
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

On the morning that would change these friends' lives forever, Mallory was especially excited. She didn't know what fate had planned, but she had a good feeling about something and showed up early to prep the boat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Once everyone was there, the trio went through their pre-launch check off list. It was imperative they have everything they needed with them on the boat. Having to travel back to shore after launching would cost them hours on the water.

ADVERTISEMENT

Setting Off

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Setting Off
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Prepping the boat was the easy part. They liked to pass the time telling jokes and and stories. They may have been old friends, but every morning felt like a 10-year reunion.

ADVERTISEMENT

The next part can be described as "the calm before the storm." The water was calm as usual as the boat headed a few miles off the Canadian coast. They knew the perfect spot to catch crab off of the Canadian coast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Letting Out Their Lines

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Letting Out Their Lines
Paul Grogan/PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images
Paul Grogan/PhotoPlus Magazine via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Once they reached their destination, the friends turned off the boat engine and let it idle. This spot was perfect and was always full of crabs. They dropped their lines and let the cages drag on the seafloor.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was the end of crab season, and while the previous weeks had been fruitful, they were hoping to go out with a bang. Since starting their business, this had been their most successful year. Would this be their most successful catch?

ADVERTISEMENT

The First Catch Was A Sign Of Things To Come

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The First Catch Was A Sign Of Things To Come
Hong Wu/Getty Images
Hong Wu/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

With the cages in the water, one of them steered the boat while the other two manned the lines, making sure they didn't tangle. They knew this routine like the back of their hands.

ADVERTISEMENT

As the first cages came up they couldn't believe it. Their spot had paid off again and it looked like today was going to be their best day ever. They high-fived in celebration, emptied the cages, the prepared to do it all over again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Moving To A New Spot

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Moving To A New Spot
DeAgostini/Getty Images
DeAgostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The day was going great. Allan, Cliff, and Mallory knew they had a chance to break their crabbing record. Finished at the first location, they turned the boat back on and set off for colder waters.

ADVERTISEMENT

The further they got, they more dangerous things got. Colonies of seals could be seen resting on icebergs. Birds were nowhere in sight. But as beautiful and serene as the scene was, it was also filled with hidden dangers and surprises.

ADVERTISEMENT

Iceberg, Straight Ahead!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Iceberg, Straight Ahead!
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Huge icebergs floated freely in the Labrador Sea. This was not the place to go on autopilot when fishing. One wrong turn could turn this fishing trip into the groups last.

ADVERTISEMENT

Allan was on lookout duty when he spotted something in the distance on top of an iceberg. He pointed in out to Cliff and Mallory. No one could make out what the shape was. Mallory thought it was probably a seal sunbathing away from the colony.

ADVERTISEMENT

Allan Couldn't Let Sleeping Seals Lay

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Allan Couldn't Let Sleeping Seals Lay
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Cliff fell in line with Mallory's theory. During their adventures together they had seen plenty of animals pop up in the ice waters from time to time. It wasn't anything strange, so why was Allan acting so weird about it?

ADVERTISEMENT

He probably couldn't tell you why, but he did know something about what was on that iceberg kept eating away at him. He told his friends that it didn't move around like a seal and he was skeptical. They looked through their binoculars and couldn't help but agree.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting Closer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Getting Closer
DEA/G. Gnemmi/Getty Images
DEA/G. Gnemmi/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Even though they knew they needed to keep fishing, curiosity got the best of the group. They couldn't take their attention away from whatever was stranded alone on an iceberg. They decided to move in closer.

ADVERTISEMENT

As the boat got closer, the wind picked up along with the chill in the air. Then they noticed there was fur on the animal. Even scarier, the fur was wet. The poor animal must have been freezing! They decided until they knew what they were dealing with, their fishing expedition was on hold.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Investigation

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Investigation
Insights/UIG via Getty Images
Insights/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The friends approached cautiously in the boat. Not only did they not know what kind of animal they might have found, but they were going off-course and venturing into unexplored waters. Allan was convinced they were doing the right thing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cliff and Mallory weren't as sure as Allan was, but the friends agreed that they needed to investigate the situation. If it was an animal in danger, then they needed to rescue it. They couldn't live with leaving it to die on their consciences!

ADVERTISEMENT

A Slow Approach

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Slow Approach
Insights/UIG via Getty Images
Insights/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The boat moved through the water slowly. The friends watched over the sides of the boat for any unexpected dangers. Any large chunk of floating ice could damage the boat and the last thing they needed was to strand themselves.

ADVERTISEMENT

The waves had picked up, too, making the boat move more than usual. Mallory urged the group to be extra careful. They may have been excited about what they were doing, but they still needed to keep their wits about them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Choppy Waters And Wind Picked Up

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Choppy Waters And Wind Picked Up
John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Without warning, a strong gust of wind rattled through the area. This made navigation even harder. Even scarier for the group, this unexpected windy whipping made the iceberg move. How would the animal react?

ADVERTISEMENT

Now that group had more than just ice to worry about. They were terrified the scared animal would jump off the iceberg from fear. Mallory kept her eyes glued to the animal. If the boat could just get a little closer she'd be able to identify what they were dealing with.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chasing The Iceberg

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Chasing The Iceberg
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The situation had taken a dangerous turn now that the team was forced to chase the iceberg. They weren't just concerned with their safety, but also the safety of whatever was pacing back and forth on the iceberg.

ADVERTISEMENT

They had to move fast to keep the boat near the iceberg. At the same time, they needed to remain cautious about the water surrounding them. Making matters worse, the day was half over and they would start running out of daylight soon!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Animal Began Taking Shape

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Animal Began Taking Shape
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

They finally got close enough to the creature to start figuring out what it might be. They could see it had four legs and looked similar to a dog. There was no way this was someone's lost pet, though.

ADVERTISEMENT

As they predicted, the poor animal was soaked with cold water and was shivering uncontrollably. Allan, Cliff, and Mallory knew at this moment that they needed to do everything they could to save this animal, even if it meant putting themselves in more danger.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Animal, Identified!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Animal, Identified!
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After a few moments of disbelief, the friends realized they were staring at an Arctic fox! They didn't have time to figure out how it may have stranded itself. It was weak and there were birds starting to circle above it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only was the fox in danger of freezing to death, but other animals were getting excited about their next meal. The friends jumped into action, desperate to make sure the little Arctic fox lived to see another day.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Rescue Seemed Dangerous

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Rescue Seemed Dangerous
Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images
Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

With time running out, the group needed to work together to come up with a plan to save the fox. There wasn't a lot of time, and there was still one big question that needed to be answered.

ADVERTISEMENT

Would the fox even trust humans with its life? There's no way of knowing how much contact this wild dog had previously had with humans. That meant despite their best intentions, there was a real possibility that they wouldn't be able to help.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Plan

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Plan
Einar Gudmann / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Einar Gudmann / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Cliff, Mallory, and Allan needed a plan to lure the fox to them. First, they tried speaking quietly and holding out their hands to see if the scared dog would come to the safety of their arms.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fox's first instinct was to run away. Of course, it had nowhere to go and ended up just staring at the strange humans trying to save it. It refused to jump to them, and they refused to leave.

ADVERTISEMENT

Patience Is A Virtue

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Patience Is A Virtue
Erich Thielscher/McPhoto/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Erich Thielscher/McPhoto/ullstein bild via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The waiting game was on. The fox showed no interest in the three friends. They continued to show interest in it though and they decided the best game to play was the long game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their patience was being tested, but they refused to give up. Finally, just as they were about to break, the fox stepped toward the boat. Would it take a leap of faith? Putting its trust in the hands of humans was looking like the only way to survive.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fox Aboard!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Fox Aboard!
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

The fox got as close as it could to the boat. It wasn't strong enough to jump aboard however and looked to Allen for help. He gently picked it up and placed it on the boat.

ADVERTISEMENT

Things still weren't alright. Allan and Cliff grabbed towels to dry the fox and keep it warm but were hesitant to handle the scared creature. One wrong move and it could attack. How long was this fox's trust going to last?

ADVERTISEMENT

An Escape Attempt

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
arctic-fox-jumped-back-inthe-water-36708-69870
Salvatore Leanza/ClickAlps/REDA&CO/UIG via Getty Images
Salvatore Leanza/ClickAlps/REDA&CO/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Scared to death, the fox decided it made the wrong choice and jumped out of the boat without warning. Everyone was stunned as the wild animal raced in the water to get back to the iceberg.

ADVERTISEMENT

The friends followed the fox until it ran out of energy. Allan gently picked it back up and placed it in the boat again. It scurried to a corner and stayed there, terrified of the situation it was in.

ADVERTISEMENT

Back From The Brink

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Back From The Brink
Einar Gudmann / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Einar Gudmann / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This time the team was going to make sure the Arctic fox couldn't get away. While Mallory was busy steering the ship back home, Allan and Cliff watched intently and waited for their moment to approach.

ADVERTISEMENT

They knew if they couldn't warm the fox back up its body would go into shock. They looked around the boat, trying to find anything to make the little guy warmer and more comfortable. They never took their eyes off the animal, though.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Warm Place To Rest

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Warm Place To Rest
Andia/UIG via Getty Images
Andia/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

From behind the steering wheel, Mallory suggested that they find a way to give the fox warmer accommodations. Cliff and Allan could only find sawdust, which they thought they could use for filled as bedding.

ADVERTISEMENT

While collecting the sawdust, they found a plastic bin to put it in. This would make a great bed frame! They packed sawdust into the bin, hoping it would act as insulation, then placed it in an area on the boat with the most sun.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting The Fox In Bed

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Getting The Fox In Bed
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Allan, who up to this point was the de facto animal handler, picked up the Arctic fox and placed it in the bin. In a matter of seconds, the exhausted fox was sound asleep.

ADVERTISEMENT

While it was recuperating, the team continued to get back to the Canadian shore as quickly as possible. The fox was okay for now, but surely needed medical attention to make sure it would survive long term.

ADVERTISEMENT

No Rest For The Weary

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
No Rest For The Tired
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Still about 30 minutes from shore, Cliff took over driving duties from Mallory. He changed course, knowing they might not have 30 minutes. Then he hit a wave and the fox woke up.

ADVERTISEMENT

It stared up from the bin, terrified and exhausted. Looking to calm the fox back down, Mallory suggested trying to feed it. Surely they could spare some of their fresh catch. A good meal could do wonders for the animal, if it was willing to take food from humans.

ADVERTISEMENT

All Turf, No Surf

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
All Turf, No Surf
Fredrik von Erichsen/picture alliance via Getty Images
Fredrik von Erichsen/picture alliance via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The fox was dry now, and the bin had indeed helped warm it up. Mallory offered the fox some fish and crab but it looked away, disinterested. There had to be something it would eat?

ADVERTISEMENT

Mallory decided to look in the crew's personal food supply. She found some Vienna sausages, which she soaked in water and put in a bowl in front of the fox. It sniffed the food, then scarfed it down like a ravenous animal. This was its first meal of the day, and possibly more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coming Back To Shore

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Coming Back To Shore
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

The fox fell back to sleep after eating its meal. Shortly after, the boat began docking at shore. The noise ended up waking the fox back up. Mallory stayed near it, trying to keep it calm with the storm of noise around it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mallory spoke softly the to the fox. It wouldn't be able to understand what she was saying, but maybe her voice would help soothe it. She just needed to keep it calm until they were done docking.

ADVERTISEMENT

Finding The Fox A Home

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Finding The Fox A Home
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
Education Images/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Safely ashore, the next decision the friends had to make was what to do with the fox. It was warm, dry, and fed, making this the last big thing to do.

ADVERTISEMENT

True to her character, Mallory came up with the answer. She remembered there was an area near the docks that would be perfect to release the fox back into the wild. There would be no imminent danger and they could watch it safely reintegrate to its natural habitat.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Room With A View

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Room With A View
Facebook
Facebook
ADVERTISEMENT

Not only was the fox's new location safe for it to re-enter the wild; it was equipped with a makeshift dog house! The structure was 10 minutes from the dock and very remote.

ADVERTISEMENT

They searched the area for the dog house. They knew it was located on the bluffs, but were uncertain of its exact location. Cliff carried the fox the whole way, doing his part to keep it safe while the friends finished their rescue mission.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Successful Rescue

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Successful Rescue
Arterra/UIG via Getty Images
Arterra/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It took a bit of time, but the friends found the fox a house. As they had done all day, they left the fox as much to its own decisions as possible. They placed the bin near the house and waited.

ADVERTISEMENT

The arctic fox stepped out of the bin, shook itself off, and walked to the house. It sat down at the entrance and looked over its new home. At this moment, Mallory, Cliff, and Allan all knew they had done something amazing.