Raden Soemawinata was having a particularly bad day. He’d arrived at Melbourne’s Brighton Pier to disperse his grandmother’s ashes in the bay. It’s a horrible moment in his life that many of us can relate to. However, something happened while he was there that completely changed the course of the day. He had the opportunity to save a life while saying goodbye to a life that meant a lot to him. A small Maltese-shih tzu wound up in the sea when he was still at the dock. His name is Bibi, and he was so small that the strong gusts from across the harbor pushed him off the pier and into the water. Sue Drummond, his owner, was terrified that her precious little puppy would drown. Soemawinata did not pause. He stripped down to his underpants and leapt into the water, wearing only his underwear and a shirt. Drummond, like the others who had assembled, waited to see what would happen. Bibi was struggling in the water, but Soemawinata caught him and brought him back to the pier. Drummond, who was thrilled to have her tiny pet back and safe, rewarded him with a hearty hug. She probably had no idea this might happen, but one thing is clear. She won’t be at the dock with Bibi for long if she doesn’t hold on tight.
