Shrewsbury OAP in Rea Brook river plunge trying to rescue dog
A pensioner fell into a stream while trying to save a friend's pet dog – and needed rescuing by emergency crews.
Lesley Drury, 69, spent an hour in stuck in the muddy waters of the Rea Brook after falling in as she tried to help the stricken animal.
The grandmother had been walking seven dogs along the path next to the Rea Brook off Hazeldine Way, in Shrewsbury, when one of them, a Jack Russell called Tyke, disappeared.
Mrs Drury, who owns four of the pooches, was walking the other three – including Tyke – for friends.
She said: "I was looking around for him and next thing I heard a splashing in the water and he had got into the river.
"Whether he had been chasing a rabbit I don't know.
"I tied the lead into a noose and flung it into the river to try and get him out but I slipped and went straight into river.
"I was crying for help, the water was up to my arm and my feet were stuck in the mud. It was really frightening; luckily I was wearing sandals, if I'd been wearing wellies I would have sunk."
Mrs Drury, of Mount Pleasant Road, spent 20 minutes shouting for help before finally a passer-by heard her calls and raised the alarm.
She said: "He managed to get the dog out but not me as the bank was steep and slippery.
"Two groundsmen off the golf course came over and still couldn't get me out."
In the end specialist water rescue crews from Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service were called out.
A fireman got into the water with a ladder to finally allow Mrs Drury to climb out.
"It was so horrible," she added.
"Something was nibbling at my feet. When I came out I was covered in mud, my phone, keys and wallet were all drenched."
Her canine companions stayed close to Mrs Drury throughout her ordeal, and were ready to greet her after she had been checked by paramedics.
She said: "All the dogs stayed around waiting for me when I finally was taken to the grass they came to see me.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in the rescue," she added.
