A policeman went beyond the call of duty to rescue a puppy who broke his back in a 15 ft horror fall.
Pc Phil Nunn made a makeshift spinal board out of a plank found in a skip after one-year-old spaniel Leo tumbled on to rocks.
After carrying him to safety and driving him to the vet, the practical PC even returned to the scene and retrieved the dog’s missing collar.
The dog’s owners Deb and Andy Coop and their daughter Emily, 15, had taken Leo for a walk from their home at Peel Brow, Ramsbottom.
Deb, 44, said: “Suddenly we noticed Leo wasn’t with us and then heard this yelp.
“He had gone down this steep cliff where the railings have been taken off the viaduct so you can walk across it.
“He had gone down a 15-foot drop onto rocks which weren’t easily accessible. He was just lying down by the river. He couldn’t stand up and moving him might have made it worse.”
Leo had broken two bones in his spine and was in such pain that when Andy tried to move him he was bitten on the wrist.
A couple of passers-by helped by fetching water and blankets and bandaging Andy’s wound, before directing Pc Nunn to the scene on the phone.
He sprang into action after the family decided they needed to risk spinal damage by moving Leo as the temperature was dropping beneath the Irwell Vale viaduct in Ramsbottom.
Pc Nunn disappeared for 20 minutes before returning with two boards, one brought from home and one from a skip.
He also brought his own family's fleeces and wellies, knowing they would have to walk through the river to get to safety. After lifting the dog on to a board, Pc Nunn and Andy, 45, carried him to safety, finding ledges to place him down as they went.
PC Nunn then drove them all to the vets – and even whisked Andy to hospital before completing his shift.
Leo had his spine plated a few days later, but returned home just a week after the incident. He also got his collar back after Pc Nunn went back and found it dangling from a tree branch.
Deb said: “My daughter and me were so upset but the policeman was amazing. We cannot thank him and the other couple enough for their help.”
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Give that man a medal,i wish we had more people who were interested in animal welfare, rather than the scum we hear about in this day & age abusing their pets !
Thieves,rioters ,thugs.Policeman rescues dog what a waste of resources.How many people were waiting for police action whilst this was taking place?
Kevin Taylor....you are worse than a rioter, just because its an animal does not mean it deserves less treatment than a human! Afterall we are animals too just smart ones....
This officers actions were outstanding and he should be commended. This is what Policing was all about in days gone by.
Kevin you are simply an ignorant person and thankfully not typical of todays society, like the rioters you are a pointless minority.
how does it feel kevin out there all by youreself in society no one agreeing or helping you maybe thats why you have such poor misguided shortsighted opinions on a subject.
Absolutly amazing!! This little dog would have not survived with the swift actions of passers by and the the local Police.. All involved should be very proud of themselves - its not often complete strangers go out of their way and perform a selfless good deed.
Well done ............
I had a Budgie called Kevin