An adopted pitbull named Yeti is being hailed as a hero after he came to the rescue of a drowning six-year-old boy at Wet Beaver Creek, Arizona, last week.

The Lennox family were enjoying an outing at the creek when six-year-old Fallon, who has not learned how to swim yet, fell into a deeper part of the river.

“It was too cold, they weren’t supposed to be swimming, and Fallon fell in the river and got swept down the river toward the little falls,” explained Fallon’s father, Mr Lennox. “All the adults were running to him and couldn’t get to him.”

Yeti reacted immediately, launching himself into the creek and pushing Fallon back toward the shore. Mr. Lennox described how the large dog used his body to block the flow of water and managed to help Fallon get to safety.

“The dog literally pushed him to the person that was closest. He’s Fallon’s best friend.”

The Lennox family adopted the one-year-old pit bull mix only three weeks earlier from the Verde Valley Humane Society. They named him Yeti as he’s big, white, and was adopted on a snow-filled day.

Already weighing 86 pounds at his young age, the family were concerned Yeti might be too big for their household — but his size was definitely an advantage in this situation, and they will always be grateful to their new best friend for saving Fallon’s life.