She was at the gardens early, around 07:00. It was a glorious, sunny day and after feeding the Egyptian geese, koi and carp, she took a seat on a bench on the edge of the water.
She was admiring the beautiful reflections on the water while her oldest dog, Lotto was sniffing around and went down to the water's edge to drink. He got into difficulty when the younger dog, Bella went after him and there was not enough space for him to turn around. He slipped in the mud and could not keep himself from sliding into the water.
Caetano pulled the younger dog out of the way, but Lotto was already struggling and in trouble. "Lotto scrambled to get out and then began to cry pitifully. Without hesitation I went down the bank to try to keep his head above the water and give myself a chance to think. As I went down I too became a victim of the mud which seemed to turn to water as I struggled to maintain a footing. I slid in deeper, while holding my precious dog with my left arm around his chest, keeping his head up. The more I pushed him upwards, the deeper I sank. We were going to drown."
She started to call for help and about the fourth time she heard a voice ask, "Where are you? What's wrong?"
It was the gatekeeper, Mr Isaac Barlow, who had let her into the garden earlier.
On her request he first pulled out Lotto. She was by then up to her hips in the mud and was sinking deeper. She warned Barlow that she was heavy and he would need another person's help to pull her out, but he reassured her that he could do it, and gripped her arm. "With superhuman strength this man, who was half my size, pulled me from the mud," she said.
She got hold of the leg of a nearby bench and also pulled with all her might. The mud released her and she was able to scramble to the top of the bank. "I just sat there, puffing and panting, thankful to be alive."
A sympathetic Barlow helped her to stand up and assisted her to her car.
"I would like to commend Isaac for his bravery, especially when he also retrieved my shoe which had popped up after I lost it in the mud. Thank you Isaac Barlow for your humaneness and quick action. If it were not for your timeous action I would not be here now," said a very grateful Caetano.
Barlow told the George Herald that after letting Caetano in, he had gone to the northern border of the gardens to open the gates there. "I was on my way back to the main gate, but something told me to take the other path along the dam. I came to a split in the path when I heard a woman calling for help."
A little further on he saw the commotion in the water and did not think twice, but went in with clothes and all. "It was a struggle, but I just knew I had to get her out. I'm very glad I could help her," said the humble hero, who is a well-known face among regular visitors.
Caetano admitted that she was guilty of not having Lotto in his harness at the time. "I make no excuses. I relaxed my vigilance for that moment and tragedy was there. So I beg everyone to make sure their dogs are on leashes. They can drown!"
* 'n Werknemer by die Botaniese Tuine, mnr. Isaac Barlow het 'n gereelde besoeker, mev. Sandy Caetano en haar hond, Lotto se lewens gered toe hy hulle uit die dam getrek het nadat albei per ongeluk in die water beland het. Die nederige held is al 'n bekende gesig by die tuine.
Mr Isaac Barlow points out where Mrs Caetano got into trouble.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
