TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Flirting With Flight At TIA: Dog Survives 6-Story Fall

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

Clayton Tieman of Largo tried to grab his 2-year old Labrador, Jet, as he watched him fly off the parking garage at TIA.

ADVERTISEMENT

By TED JACKOVICS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

Updated: 02/08/2008 12:11 am

TAMPA - Airport police call it "the miracle landing" at Tampa International.

A 65-pound Labrador retriever, without benefit of an airplane or parachute, flew from the top of an airport parking deck six stories down - and survived.

Perhaps it was luck. Perhaps it was a miracle. Or maybe the 2-year-old dog from Largo simply lived up to his name.

"Jet is doing great and has made a full recovery," said Clayton Tieman, who with his wife Jessica chose their dog's name for the rich black of his coat, not for his flying abilities.

"I think I'll name my next dog Scooter or something more grounded."

Although the adventure took place Dec. 31, the story of his 60- to 80-foot tumble is still the talk of the veterinary office where he was treated. When they checked him out, he had cuts and bruises, but no broken bones.

"It was definitely unusual," said Lisa Thomson, Florida Veterinary's client care coordinator. "That's a fall from a pretty high story. It's all the luck of the draw.

"It all depends on how they land."

It all began as an afternoon family outing to pick up Jessica Tieman's parents and brother, who were flying in from New York.

Clayton Tieman was standing on the top of an airport parking deck, alongside the 4-foot retaining wall on the ninth floor. Jet escaped from the family's truck and sped to his master.

The Labrador apparently was running too fast to keep from hitting the wall, so he leaped. Tieman yelled.

Jet was gone.

"I couldn't look down," said Tieman, though he's no stranger to mishaps. His business in Johns Pass rescues stranded mariners. "I heard a big thud and a whimper. My wife was running hysterically."

But another traveler in the parking lot a few floors below witnessed Jet's fall to the roof of a third-floor passageway and hollered up, "Your dog got up and walked."

"I called down and told Jet to stay," Tieman said. "He obeyed."

Tieman's brother-in-law raced down to help. The family summoned airport police.

"The dog seemed fine," said Lt. Richard Osborn, the first airport officer to arrive at the scene. "It was up and walking."

The family put Jet into a truck and set off for the vet's office, about 15 minutes from the airport. There, a triage unit gave Jet vital fluids and stabilized him. A collapsed lung healed overnight.

Jet spent New Year's Eve at the veterinary hospital. By New Year's Day, the staff had a difficult time keeping him calm and quiet.

Lee Rivas, Jessica Tieman's father, saw how far it was the dog fell.

"My heart tells me there must have been some angels at the airport," Rivas said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 and tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT