Good Samaritans rescue dog walker who jumped into river to save pet

PASSERS-BY were praised for teaming up to help save a dog walker left clinging to a buoy in the River Stour after jumping in to rescue her pet.

A resident went out in his boat and managed to pluck the female victim from the water, 400 metres upstream from Tuckton Bridge in Christchurch, before emergency teams including RNLI crews and coastguard arrived.

They were then assisted in retrieving the animal by a canoe owner and another local.

The woman had been walking three dogs with a child when one of the animals was swept downstream in fast-flowing floodwater around 10.50am on Sunday as it went to retrieve a ball.

She went into the river to rescue the animal when her shouts for help were heard by a man who quickly grabbed his boat keys and launched his vessel to reach her.

RNLI Mudeford said on Facebook: “On promising that people would come back for the dog, the man convinced the dog owner to let go of the dog so he could help her into the boat.

“The dog swam to the river bank and the local resident managed to pull the casualty into his boat.

“A nearby canoeist headed for the river bank to assist the dog, who by now had become stuck in a steep riverbank.”

On arrival at the scene the RNLI crew took the woman in their lifeboat, Mudeford Servant, to the other side of the river where firefighters and paramedics were waiting, and treated her at the scene.

Meanwhile, another woman collected a dog lead from her nearby home and helped the lifeboat crew retrieve the distressed pet from the riverbank.

Finally, the lifeboat carried out a sweep of the nearby riverbanks to ensure no one else was involved in the incident before returning to base.

Congratulating the Good Samaritans for their response, the RNLI Mudeford Lifeboat Facebook post reminded dog walkers of the dangers of attempting to rescue their pets from water.

“We are extremely grateful to the local resident who saved the lady, and the canoeist and resident who came to assist,” the post said.

“As hard as it might be, if a dog gets into trouble in or near the water please don't attempt the rescue yourself. If the dog is unable to get to safety when you call his/her name, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

“RNLI volunteers are trained to rescue people – or animals – that are in danger on the coast, please don't put yourself in any unnecessary risk.”

An RNLI crew from Poole also attended the incident, along with Southbourne Coastguard and officers from Dorset Police.

Facebook users took to the comments sections on the emergency crews’ posts about the rescue to thank both them and the passers-by for what they did to help.

One person wrote: “Lovely local resident going to help and brilliant response from our emergency teams as usual. Thank goodness all turned out well. Lucky dog, caring owner.”