Innovative Drone Retrieval: Girlfriend’s Creative Swim Saves DJI Avata 2
Antony Newby, a recreational drone pilot, faced a dilemma on June 29, 2025, when his DJI Avata 2 crashed across a stream, leaving him grounded. His girlfriend, Danielle, stepped up with an unconventional solution, swimming about 50 feet across the water to retrieve the first-person view (FPV) drone. The feat, captured in a viral Facebook video, showcases her ingenuity as she tied the drone to her hair to keep it dry during the return swim. This heartwarming story highlights the lengths enthusiasts go to protect their gear and offers a unique glimpse into drone recovery challenges.
“Teamwork Babe!”
The DJI Avata 2, a compact FPV drone weighing about 0.7 pounds, is designed for agility and immersive flying, featuring a 1/1.7-inch sensor and 4K video at 100fps. Newby’s crash likely stemmed from the drone’s high-speed capabilities, reaching up to 60 mph, which can challenge even skilled pilots in tricky terrain. Danielle’s method of securing the drone with her hair protected its delicate electronics, including the battery and motors, from water damage—a testament to Danielle’s swimming skills and ingenuity.
The video reveals Newby’s relief: “She managed to get across. We found the drone, but the rotors were out, so I can’t set it off from there.” This suggests either the drone ran out of battery power, or the crash impacted the its immediate usability, though its recovery avoided further damage.
“Best girlfriend ever! 😍 I crashed my drone on the other side of the river. 🙈 Danielle had to swim across and get it for me and then find a clever way of getting back without it getting wet! She’s a superstar!!, Antony posted on Facebook.
The video, garnering 50,000 views and 255 comments, sparked admiration, with Melanie Glover noting, “Bless Danielle, what an absolute superstar! True love xx.”
Photos courtesy of Antony Newby and Danielle Middleton
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