A missing Jack Russell Terrier’s days-long disappearance took an extraordinary turn when a drone spotted her stranded on a narrow 13th-floor ledge of a Dee Why apartment building — a discovery that transformed a worried neighbourhood search into a delicate high-rise rescue.
It began with flyers, phone calls and the anxious rhythm familiar to anyone who has lost a pet.
Ellbie, the two-year-old JRT, had vanished on 25 April while being cared for in Dee Why, leaving those looking after her searching nearby streets and hoping someone in the community might have seen her. As word spread, locals shared the appeal, keeping watch for the small terrier who had suddenly disappeared.
Then a drone operator joined the search two days later.
Scanning the building from above, the drone picked up what no one could easily see from the street: Ellbie, trapped high on a ledge of the Lighthouse building on Howard Avenue. She was alive, but stranded about 40 metres above the ground.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews were called in, and the search quickly became a vertical rescue. With the dog trapped so high above ground and no safe access from inside the building, the operation required precision, patience and calm under pressure.
Below, locals and those involved in the search waited as crews worked carefully around the frightened dog, knowing one wrong movement could startle her. The rescue unfolded over three tense hours.
The rescue was slow and deliberate until a firefighter descended towards the ledge, secured Ellbie with a lead, and brought her away from the edge. After days of uncertainty, the small dog was finally back in safe hands. She was later taken to a nearby veterinary clinic for assessment, where she was reported to be in good condition despite her ordeal.
Ellbie’s carer, who had been looking after the dog while his parents were overseas, described the experience as overwhelming, with relief replacing days of uncertainty as soon as rescuers made contact.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews involved in the operation described it as a “remarkable” rescue, highlighting both the risks involved and the importance of community awareness in locating the dog.
By the end of the day, what began as a puzzling disappearance had turned into a story of collective vigilance, skilled rescue and a small dog whose survival captured the attention — and hearts — of an entire community.
Published 28-April-2026
