'My guardian angel': Hero dog saves injured deaf hiker

The 21-year-old embraces her 'guardian angel. Photo / Alaska State Troopers

A dog has been praised as a hero after it rescued a deaf woman who fell more than 180m down a mountain.

Amelia Milling, 21, was hiking in Alaska when she slipped and made the terrifying fall.

Battered and bruised, she realised she was injured and lost.

But that's when a husky named Nanook appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and guided her back to the main path.

Milling sits with Nanook. Photo / Sharon Milling

The husky kept hiking with her but a few kilometres later she slipped trying to cross a freezing river.

Struggling to stay afloat, Milling knew she'd have to take off her backpack.

"I was really struggling to breathe," she told the Democrat and Chronicle.

"My whole body was numb."

"I told him several times that I love him. And I'll never forget him." Photo / Amelia Milling

She tried to reach for a branch but couldn't hold on.

Nanook came to the rescue for a second time, jumping in the frigid waters and grabbing her backpack in his mouth while paddling her to dry land.

Milling grabbed her satellite phone and called for help.

Alaska state troopers rescued the pair the following day.

Nanook was soon returned to his owner, Scott Swift, who lives kilometres from the hiking trail.

Milling originally thought Nanook was a wolf. Photo / Facebook

Milling described Nanook as her "guardian angel", recalling how Nanook even stayed outside her tent when she camped during the night.

"I told him several times that I love him," she said.

"And I'll never forget him."

According to Nanook's owner, his husky has saved at least three other hikers, and said he "wouldn't doubt if there's more out there".

The 21-year-old embraces her 'guardian angel. Photo / Alaska State Troopers

Swift started a Facebook page for the pup to find other people he'd helped. Within a few days, he heard dozens of stories.