Nathan Martinelli, a vanlifer and traveler from California, has lived through countless adventures on the road. But one encounter left him more stunned than any other.
While hiking along the cliffs and taking in the breathtaking scenery, Martinelli noticed a strange dark figure at the bottom.
When he looked closer, he realized it was a cow — stranded, exhausted, and unable to escape. The poor animal had collapsed near the cliffside and had no way to climb back up the steep rock wall.
The cow gazed up at Martinelli with pleading eyes, almost as if begging him to help.
A Risky Rescue
The moment Martinelli saw the stranded cow, his heart told him he had to act.
He carefully made his way down to the rocky shoreline, searching for something that could help. Finding an abalone shell, he began digging makeshift steps into the cliff wall.
All the while, the cow stood watching intently, as if he knew Martinelli was trying to help.
When the traveler started climbing upward, he motioned for the cow to follow.
“I knew if that cow didn’t want to get up, there was no way I could get him up,” Martinelli told The Dodo.
The cow seemed to understand. Slowly, he began to climb, step by step, gaining confidence as he followed Martinelli’s lead.
Eventually, the determined animal even passed Martinelli, who had only reached the halfway point.
But then things took a dangerous turn.
The cow strayed onto the wrong path, putting himself and Martinelli — who was directly beneath him — in danger.
“I was under him. I knew if he would have slipped, he would have taken me out with him,” Martinelli said.
Back On Solid Ground
Thankfully, the cow corrected himself and moved back toward the mountain wall. Martinelli pressed his hands against the animal to keep him steady and prevent a fall.
Up above, Martinelli’s friend watched anxiously, cheering the frightened cow onward.
Finally, after a tense climb, the cow reached the top. Once his hooves hit the grass, he let out what seemed like a sigh of relief.
Martinelli stood below, relieved and proud, watching as the animal trotted away across the pasture and rejoined his herd.
For the stranded cow, it was pure luck that a kindhearted traveler appeared at just the right moment. And for Martinelli, it became one of the most unforgettable rescues of his journey.