VICTORIA - What was supposed to be a typical night for Bonita Koster, quickly became an emergency situation. Last Thursday night, in the dark and stormy weather, she was walking her dogs in Esquimalt-Gorge Park. Suddenly, 1 year-old Blue lost her footing while chasing her canine pal Foxer, and slid into the water. Just as Bonita got ready to jump in after Blue, a passerby offered his cellphone to call 911.

Victoria Police Cst. Cal Ewer responded to the call. As Blue clung to the concrete wall by her teeth, Cst. Ewer and two fellow officers spring into action. Linking arms, Cst. Ewer climbed down the wall into the frigid fast-moving water and pulled the dog out.

Tonight Cst. Ewer is being hailed as a hero. "I'm a dog-lover too. I had to do what I had to do," he says.