A hermit from Falkirk, who was close to death, was rescued after a dog found his note for help in a bottle.
Robert Sinclair, who has lived in woods near the Scottish town for 27 years, became critically ill while living rough in a deserted farmhouse.
It's believed the 55-year-old may have suffered an asthma attack. He managed to write a note asking for help before throwing it out of a window in a bottle.
His life was saved when Ben, a sheepdog on a nearby farm, found the bottle and returned home with it, says the Daily Record.
Within minutes, farmer Brian Bisler had alerted the emergency services and Robert, who was struggling to breathe, was given oxygen at the scene before being taken to hospital.
Brian said: "The minute I saw Robert's name, I knew it was genuine because he is well- known in the area. The note said he was in severe pain and was unable to move from the house. He said he had run out of food and didn't want to die there."
He added: "I am so proud of Ben. If it wasn't for him, Robert would probably have died. He hadn't eaten for eight days and hadn't had a drink of water in four. After he was given some oxygen, the first thing he said was `thank you' to Ben. He was so grateful."
Hermit Robert has survived by foraging for food and clothes. A Falkirk police spokesman said: "The man was rescued from the house and taken to the acute ward in the Falkirk Royal Infirmary."