A Boston man says he is lucky to be alive after jumping into the Charles River to rescue his 2-year-old goldendoodle, Benny, during a dramatic incident.

Real estate agent Hans Nagrath was out for a run with his dog on the day of the Boston Marathon when Benny chased geese and jumped into the 40-degree water. When the dog failed to return, Nagrath entered the river in an attempt to save him.

He later said he quickly became exhausted in the freezing conditions but managed to guide Benny toward a pier, where bystanders helped pull both of them to safety and wrapped the dog in a blanket.

Both survived the ordeal. Nagrath said he later wished he had called for help before entering the water, while Benny appeared unfazed and was later seen still eager to chase geese.

cbsnews.com