A Newfoundland terrier named Maui has become a French national hero after giving its life to save three tourists from drowning in rough Mediterranean waters off the southern tip of Corsica.
Amid reports about the pleasures of summer holidays yesterday, the French press highlighted the story of the rescue dog that towed a lifeguard's surfboard to shore with the exhausted swimmers, two Dutch and one British, hanging onto it for life.
Just before reaching the beach at Propriano, crashing waves separated the group. Firemen called to the scene were able to haul the tourists ashore but the exhausted dog went under and drowned. Maui's owner, Mr Pascal Brockly, said the tourists were so exhausted from fighting the waves that they could not even kick their feet to help bring the surfboard back to shore.