Puck, the golden retriever of Radio Veronica DJ Niek van der Bruggen from Eindhoven, has been found. The dog was in the car with its owner and ran away after a traffic accident near Zijderveld in Utrecht. A police spokesperson told ANP that the four-legged friend is in good health. However, to be sure, she has been checked by a vet.
The dog fled after the Eindhoven resident was involved in an accident with three cars. His car overturned six times. The DJ escaped unscathed, but Puck ran off.
After the accident, Niek appealed via Instagram to people in the Zijderveld region to call the animal ambulance if they saw his dog. On Wednesday morning, a dog rescue team from the animal ambulance and the police searched the woods around Vianen. Ultimately, Puck was found thanks to a scent trail.
Press photographer Justin Egberts accidentally bumped into Puck when he wanted to document the search. “She was very scared at first, but when Niek’s brother came, he managed to pick her up,” he says RTV Utrecht.
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Niek says on Instagram that he is relieved. “Puckie, my goldie, is right,” he says in a video. “She has been checked and has been walking around all night of course. She only has some broken soles. If you walk the Four Days Marches, you also have that.” The DJ says he has been awake since Tuesday evening to arrange everything and thanks everyone who helped with the search. The phone is now switched off. “I’m fine, I’m going to be airborne and we’re going to celebrate Christmas.”
The police investigation into the accident is still ongoing. An alcohol and saliva test was taken from Niek to check whether he was under the influence. The results are not expected until after Christmas at the earliest.
A spokesperson for Radio Veronica tells RTV Utrecht that the DJ has assured that alcohol and drugs did not play a role. “We are of course very relieved that Niek did not suffer any physical injuries.”
