Boy’s best friend: Dog saves 10-year-old from speeding truck

Geo, a German Shepherd-Collie cross, is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a fractured spine, broken leg and severe bruising during a heroic rescue in Essex, U.K.

The 7-month-old pup pushed his owner, 10-year-old Charlie Riley, out of the way of a speeding truck headed straight for them. Instead of hitting the boy, the reckless driver mounted the curb and hit Geo instead.

Watch ITV's news coverage of Geo's heroism here.

Charlie's mother, Carly, and his two brothers witnessed the terrifying hit-and-run:

"We were waiting to cross the road, when I just heard a car going really fast," she told the Sun.

"Then a pick-up truck mounted the kerb, and the next thing I know is Geo has pushed Charlie out the way. Geo took the full force — then the truck hit him again and just drove off. I have no doubt Geo saved Charlie."

"It could have wiped us all out. If it wasn't for Geo I am 100 per cent sure it would've been Charlie," she added.

Geo's vet bills are expected to top £8,000 ($12,700 CAD). While the family struggles to pay for his treatment — they've set up a site to receive donations from empathetic readers — Carly and her husband, Ian, says that getting the dog put down was never an option.

"We want him fixed no matter what it costs. He's family," Carly said.

Follow Geo's recovery progress on his Facebook page, Geo the Hero.

As for the hit-and-run driver, police are still investigating the incident.