Two dogs rescued following separate river incidents

Wednesday 24 June
14.56 Eastwood Road, Broomhill, Bristol
16.30 Wellington Road, St Judes, Bristol

Firefighters dealt with two river rescues involving dogs within the space of an hour and a half on a hot and sunny Wednesday afternoon.

In the first incident, a Springer Spaniel entered the River Avon near Eastwood Road in Broomhill and was unable to get out. The dog’s owner, a man thought to be in his 40s, then became trapped when he also went in to the water in an attempt to rescue the dog.

Fortunately Bedminster’s safety boat was training nearby and was able to take the pair to safety. Neither were injured as a result of their ordeal.

Later, firefighters were called to the aid of an American Bulldog trapped in waters off Wellington Road in St Judes. It appears the dog had been walked with its owner when it jumped over a wall to chase a bird, not realising a river was on the other side.

Crews used a 10m ladder to reach the dog which was then placed in an animal sling and reunited with its owner.