Fisherman's best friend to the rescue

THE extraordinary act saw Tia (10) haul her owner out of the water by his coat

A FISHERMAN was saved by his loyal dog before he almost drowned in a river.

Ryan Keyes (25) was fishing in Alexandra Park, Oldham, when he slipped down the side of a steep bank.

But in an extraordinary act, trustworthy Tia, his 10-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, intervened and dragged her owner by his coat to safety.

Mr Keyes of Stanford Road, Lees, said: "I slipped in the mud and fell into the water.

"I was weighed down by my gear and getting increasingly panicked because I was unable to grip on to anything.

"I realised there was a very real possibility I was going to drown.

"But fortunately my dog intervened and dragged me by my coat to safety."

The plumber and hobbyist painter was fishing near to a stone bridge across the park's central large lake when the incident happened earlier this month.

It was around 7pm when Mr Keyes lost his footing and fell down the steep bank while trying to reel in a large catch.

He said: "I was on the bank and caught a fish. I could tell it was a large one and as I was trying to pull it out, I slipped.

"I went down on my back and was submerged in the water.

"My feet were stuck and I knew it was quite a dangerous situation.

"I was worried about drowning. The water was going up my nose and I could have died.

"But Tia grabbed me by the back of my coat.

"It's quite a feat she was able to drag me to safety.

"It is an extraordinary experience.

"No one expects that from a dog."

The brindle-colour-coated terrier hauled her 160lb, 5ft 10inch owner to the safety of the bank.

Mr Keyes, who came away unscathed, has had Tia since he was 15 and takes her with him on his fishing ventures so that she can have a walk.

She was given a bone as well as lots of love and affection by her thankful owner following her successful rescue mission.

The grateful owner said: "I was more or less alright.

"The bank and water broke my fall so I was not injured.

"I was just panicked."

Mr Keyes, who lives with his girlfriend, said his friends and family thought he was joking about the event.

He said: "Friends and family thought I was having them on but it is also a very heart-warming story.

"The dog cares so much about me that she risked her own life and came to save me."