Charlie Head rescued Bam-Bam who was stranded out in the ocean.

A paddle boarder out in Herne Bay off the Kent coast in England spotted a puppy stranded on a rock several hundred feet from shore and surrounded by water. The tide was coming in and the pup was just minutes away from being swept out to sea.

The man named Charlie Head filmed his rescue of the frightened, soaked Shih Tzu pup. As he paddled out to the dog he comments, "He's just sat out there like a little dude, wondering what to do. He definitely needs a rescue - in about 10 minutes he'll be completely covered in water."

Charlie gets the pup on his board and comforts him before paddling in to shore. He took the small dog to a nearby pub by the ocean front. A dog warden revealed the dog's name is Bam-Bam and is currently trying to contact the owner. A server at the pub said, "If they can't trace the owner I am going to keep him. Poor Bam-Bam." In the meantime, Bam Bam is safe at Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary.

Charlie reaches Bam-Bam on the rocks (left); the rocks where the dog nearly perished (right)

Update October 19, 2012: Bam Bam/Molly has been reunited with her family! Molly was on a walk without her owner when she slipped out of her collar and bolted. By the time her owner, Gemma Williams, arrived at the scene, she was nowhere to be seen. 

Molly was missing for two days and there were many people out searching for her, but because of the vastness of the area, they were unsuccessful. 

It's believed that Molly made her way out to the rocks at low tide and became trapped as soon as the tide came in. She is now safe and well at home with Gemma and her two children, apparently no worse for wear.

Gemma has thanked Charlie and says, "She is 2 years old and we had been out looking for her after she escaped from Studd Hill, Herne Bay. Her name is Molly (Bam Bam is her kennel name as she is chipped to the breeder). She is home safe and well with us now!"

• Shih Tzu
• England
• paddle boarder
• Studd Hill
• Herne Bay