A Grand Haven surfer used his board to rescue a struggling dog that a big wave swept off a pier in Lake Michigan on Tuesday.

The black-and-brown mixed breed pooch was walking with his owner without a leash when a big wave swept him off. A surfer, Matt Smolenski immediately jumped into the sea after him and got hold of his collar.

Witness Royce Rodgers, an off-duty Muskegon Heights police officer told the Associated Press, "He put the dog up on his surfboard, and the dog rode the surfboard in to shore."

With the dog crouched on the board, the 25-year-old surfer cautiously held him from the large waves and a strong current all the way to shore.

Smolenski, who said he noticed the dog a number of times on the shore earlier with his owner, said, "He barks at the waves and then jumps back when they wash up on the pier."

On Tuesday, the animal was not on a leash when there was a large wave at the sea knocked him off his owner's feet into the sea. Though the dog tried to swim initially, the waves were too large for the poor animal.

The owner later expressed his gratitude towards Smolenski and gave him a high five and left the scene.