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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blind dog saved in 'dramatic' Lepe beach rescue | Blind dog saved in 'dramatic' Lepe beach rescue |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A blind dog which "took it in his head to swim to the Isle of Wight" has been saved from the sea off Hampshire after it got into "grave difficulties". | A blind dog which "took it in his head to swim to the Isle of Wight" has been saved from the sea off Hampshire after it got into "grave difficulties". |
| The small border collie, called Fly, had gone into the water at Lepe beach in the New Forest on Tuesday afternoon. | The small border collie, called Fly, had gone into the water at Lepe beach in the New Forest on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Fly's owner Mark Cowing jumped in to try and save his pet but could not contend with strong currents and had to be helped to shore by a kayaker. | Fly's owner Mark Cowing jumped in to try and save his pet but could not contend with strong currents and had to be helped to shore by a kayaker. |
| After the ordeal the dog scoffed down four pouches of food and a pork pie. | After the ordeal the dog scoffed down four pouches of food and a pork pie. |
| A coastguard helicopter found the struggling dog 200m (656ft) offshore and directed an RNLI crew to its aid. | |
| Mr Cowing, 55, who is from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and is on holiday in the area, said: "We were literally playing on the shoreline when all of a sudden he took it in his head to swim to the Isle of Wight. | Mr Cowing, 55, who is from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and is on holiday in the area, said: "We were literally playing on the shoreline when all of a sudden he took it in his head to swim to the Isle of Wight. |
| "When he got 20 or 30 feet out I had to strip off, down to my underpants, and go and rescue him. | "When he got 20 or 30 feet out I had to strip off, down to my underpants, and go and rescue him. |
| "He disappeared out of sight so I presumed he drowned. I tried to wave for help but I thought I was a goner. | "He disappeared out of sight so I presumed he drowned. I tried to wave for help but I thought I was a goner. |
| "Luckily a gentleman of 71, I didn't get his name, came out in his kayak and dragged me to shore." | "Luckily a gentleman of 71, I didn't get his name, came out in his kayak and dragged me to shore." |
| Mr Cowing said he told the coastguard and RNLI about his dog but had lost hope the 12-year-old would be alive. | Mr Cowing said he told the coastguard and RNLI about his dog but had lost hope the 12-year-old would be alive. |
| But the helicopter found him and Cowes RNLI lifeboat helm Mark Harker jumped into the sea and pulled the tired dog to the boat. | But the helicopter found him and Cowes RNLI lifeboat helm Mark Harker jumped into the sea and pulled the tired dog to the boat. |
| Mr Cowing added: "I was in tears when I saw him, he's my boy. I just felt a complete and utter idiot for what I did. | Mr Cowing added: "I was in tears when I saw him, he's my boy. I just felt a complete and utter idiot for what I did. |
| "When we got back to the caravan he had four packets of dinner and a pork pie and went to sleep." | "When we got back to the caravan he had four packets of dinner and a pork pie and went to sleep." |
| Mr Cowing praised the emergency services and wants to trace the kayaker, who said he had heart trouble, to thank him personally. | Mr Cowing praised the emergency services and wants to trace the kayaker, who said he had heart trouble, to thank him personally. |
| The RNLI said the dog, which had lost its sight due to cataracts, was "in grave difficulties and the lifeboat arrived just in time" to carry out the "dramatic rescue". | The RNLI said the dog, which had lost its sight due to cataracts, was "in grave difficulties and the lifeboat arrived just in time" to carry out the "dramatic rescue". |