RACE WITH DEATH

- Enisey, look for! - for the umpteenth time Kuanyshbek gave an order to his four-legged partner. But the broad-breasted dog of the Belgian Shepherd breed with strong paws looked at his master in bewilderment and could not understand in any way what they wanted from him.

 

 

He knew his «frontier work» perfectly. And more than once, thanks to a sensitive dog’s nose, Yenisey led the «Alarm Group» directly to the intruder. But at the border, everything was clear: initially it was necessary to «follow the trail», which, as a rule, is fresh, with not overwritten smell. And here there are piles of snow all around, people walking back and forth, apparently invisible. What to look for, and most importantly how?

- Yenisey, understand, - the dog handler crouched down and grabbed the dog by the face with both hands, gazing intently into his intelligent eyes. - There are, deep under the snow, people. We must find them quickly. If not you and me, then no one can help them. Come on, my dear, look. We should! We must!

As if understanding his master, Yenisey, having ruffled his red fur coat, began to sniff the snowdrifts, trying to catch at least some smell. But the thickness of the blockage turned out to be a serious obstacle even for an experienced dog. Only after a couple of hours, the shepherd dog smelled a man and with its powerful paws began to dig out a large snowdrift. Kuanysh, grabbing a sapper shovel, also began to rake the blockage

A soldier was lying at a depth of five meters. He was at the end of his strength, with severe hypothermia, but most importantly - alive. Joy overwhelmed the soul of the border guard, and satisfied with the successful search, Yenisey proudly raised his fluffy tail. One life is saved. But ... under the thickness of the snow there were still 22 people ...

***

The corporal of the contract service Kuanyshbek Karbozov, despite the enormous fatigue after the daily duty, hastened to the gorge as part of the «Alarm group» with the dog Yenisey assigned to him.

This frontier tandem, which has served on the frontier since 2012, has always stood out for its excellent results. Repeatedly Kuanysh, with the help of his faithful assistant, detained border trespassers and discovered contraband. And in the competitions among dog handlers of the border department, regional administration «Ontustik» and the Taraz detachment for the «Best search group» more than once became the winner.

Taking into account their experience and professionalism, no one doubted that, despite the tasks unusual for them, they would cope and free the servicemen from the snow captivity.

***

A tight east wind with strong gusts was blowing in the gorge. But the border tandem: the dog handler corporal K. Karbozov and the Belgian dog Yenisey, inspired by a good start, ignoring the cold and fatigue, continued their search. A lot of time has passed since the beginning of the operation. They had to hurry. The count went on for minutes. Snow captives could simply suffocate under a thick layer of snow. Everyone had the feeling that a race was going on with death. But the border guard with his four-legged partner, despite the fierce frost and gusts of wind, stubbornly pulled one soldier after another from the clutches of death. Ten of the sixteen survivors were found by corporal K. Karbozov and his border shepherd dog.

 

 

Fathers and mothers, spouses and children of the rescued guys warmly thanked Kuanyshbek and shook Yenisei’s paw. Everyone was well aware that, had it not been in the gorge of the border guard with a dog, the number of people killed by an avalanche would probably not have been seven, but much more.

- Thank you very much for my dad. Thank you for saving him, ”the seven-year-old boy said in a voice trembling with excitement.

Karbozov, looked at him: the boy’s eyes full of tears were looking at Kuanyshbek with unchildish sadness and anxiety that had not yet subsided. He lifted him into his arms and hugged the baby tightly. And right there, as if all his pain from the experience of fear of losing his dearest person was transmitted to the border guard. Tears were treacherous. Hiding them, he put the boy on the ground and bent over  Yenisey, patted the dog’s ear: “Thank him. He found your daddy.»

The border dog, as if understanding everything, slightly tilting his head to one side, extended his wide paw to the boy...

***

For the border skills and dedication, corporal Kuanysh Karbozov was recognized as the Best Border Guard of 2017 by the decision of the Military Council of the Border Guard Service of the KNB.

On February 17, 2017, in the Koksai gorge in the Zhambyl region, during routine combat training exercises for military personnel of military unit 91678, a sudden avalanche occurred. According to preliminary data, 23 soldiers of the mountain-ranger regiment of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan were under the avalanche.

Rescue units - 75 people and seven pieces of equipment - were immediately sent to the scene. In addition, more than 60 servicemen of the regiment carried out search and rescue operations. Several hours have passed, but there has been no result.

Not far from the place where the tragedy occurred, there was a border outpost. The border guards also received a distress signal and immediately moved to help.