by Ed Targett

A video of the heart-warming rescue of stranded puppy "Bam-Bam" by an extreme rower off Herne Bay has touched animal lovers around the world.

But now we can reveal the story behind her escape - and that the shivering shih tzu is actually a bitch called Molly, who has been reunited with her original owner after fleeing her new keeper.

Intrepid paddle boarder Charlie Head was on a 600-mile ocean trip from Cornwall to London when he spotted the pup stuck on a rock as the tide came in.

His paddle board rescue of the "little dude" came just in the nick of time – Molly was just minutes from drowning as the tide began to cover the rock.

Charlie - training for a 3,000-mile cross-Atlantic trip - had set off from Land's End in July, paddling as far as he could every day in a gruelling expedition and then sleeping rough or with friends before he encountered the stranded pup.

Molly had also slept rough the night before after changing hands and escaping from her new owner Eddie Kitchenside, of Wolseley Avenue, Herne Bay.

"But on our first walk out she slipped her collar and did a runner. We searched for her everywhere and called the dog warden but couldn't find her.

"Her previous owner even came to help in the hunt. People were looking for her everywhere.

"The next morning she was spotted in a play area near the beach and I was really relieved she had survived the night, but she again ran off before anyone could catch her.

"Myself and Linda would just like to say a big thank you to Charlie and another thank you to Hampton pub and every one that help us look for her - it's nice to know people care."

Molly didn't spend long with owners Eddie Kitchenside and his partner Linda

Former owner Gemma Williams, 30, from Sittingbourne, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw her rescue on KentOnline. She still has the microchip from her breeder, but is actually known as Molly.

"She is very shy but my partner Tim and I have four dogs including her, so we thought it might be best if she went to a new home.

"I'm sure Eddie would have taken great care of her, but she obviously didn't want to move house."

The mum-of-two added: "I think it's fair to say she's going to be staying with us now – I'll never let her go again."