Koala saved after bush fires Australia Dies

A koala, who turned out to be female, became the most famous koala in the world when firefighter David Tree stopped to give her a drink amid the devastation.


Mr Tree said he was surprised by the reaction to the photograph, which was snapped by a fellow CFA volunteer on a mobile phone.

He said he was in the middle of backburning at Mirboo North when he saw the stricken koala. "I could see she had sore feet and was in trouble, so I pulled over the fire truck. She just plonked herself down, as if to say 'I'm beat'," he said.

"I offered her a drink and she drank three bottles.

"The most amazing part was when she grabbed my hand. I will never forget that."


She has been recovering in Mountain Ash Wildlife Shelter.Carer Jenny Shaw said she suffered burns on her paws and was in a lot of pain, but was on the road to recovery!

*** Edit: Sam did not made it in the end. R.I.P.

RSPCA Victoria
3 Burwood Hwy
Burwood East, VIC 3151
Ph: (03) 9224-2222
Fax: (03) 9224-2200

IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare
8 Belmore St
Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Ph: 02 9288 4900
Fax: 02 9288 4901

Animal Aid
35 Killara Road
Coldstream, VIC 3153
Ph: 03 9739 0300
Fax: 03 9739 0400

St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)
170 Forster Road
Mount Waverley, Vic 3149
Ph: 1300 360 455

The Salvation Army - Australia Southern Territory
5 Hamilton Street
Mont Albert, VIC 3127
Ph: (03) 9896 6000
Fax: (03) 9899 2339

Burn Foundation Of Australia
PO Box 1172
Crows Nest, NSW 1585
Ph: 0404 012 121
Fax: 02 9873 2054

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

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• australia
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• burn
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• melbourne
• victoria
• drama
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• news
• run
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• female
• famous
• Australian
• Bushfires
• Koala
• Drink
• Water
• CFA
• Firefighter
• Bush
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• Victorian
• Tragedy
• BushFire
• Crisis
• 2009
• February
• David
• Tree
• Sam
• The
• dead
• die
• put
• to
• sleep

[CRTukker]

Donation info updated, you can find the info on the right hand side.

[acbdeiolmkjihgfty]

yeah i donated

[CRTukker]

Cheers mate, mine should be there also by now.

[latinohr]

proud to be aussie, keep the donations coming, and well done to the volunteers

[CRTukker]

Can ya give the info for the donation website pls?

[highestcrown]

Very emotional and moving video, especially when the thirsty Koala takes man hand.

Many thanks to the good-hearted fireman, not everyone would do so much for an animal.

[Rozoks]

Proud 2 b a Aussie !!!!

On a darker note check out what this yank posted about us, type in World coverage of australian bushfires, its called Australian bushfires.... burn baby burn. Dont be shy leave a nice msg for the so and so.

[elvinhickma12k]

This is one "gleaming" video. =p

[robbiepeters512]

Your vid is popular on Portof

[Margui622]

That video touched the hearts of the entire world.

[cody12qw]

RIP SAM

[aaoppe]

The world would be a better place if everyone was as gentle as that fireman.

[ISUPPORTANON]

R.I.P Sam.....poor little girl.

[BoggaBillaRFS]

This Video went all over the world, it was on the american News channels and the ELLEN De Generous show

[bundangbear]

What a life, huh, my friend!!

[bundangbear]

GREAT vid!

[kramedreob]

RIP Sam,this vid made me feel so good a short while ago..Very sad to hear he died later by chlamydia..RIP