A dogwalker crushed beneath a giant tree was saved with the help of his beloved pet who refused to abandon his side.
Malcolm Myers, 63, was walking Yorkshire terrier Buddy on Wednesday when a horse chestnut tree came crashing down from a garden.
Mr Myers, a semi-retired businessman, was hit in the back and the neck by branches, and was buried by foliage as he passed the Sowerby Institute near his home in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
The ex- bodybuilder managed to free himself with help from ten-year-old Buddy.
He said: “I'm very lucky to be alive, the doctors don't know how I survived.
"It has been horrific. I didn't know what had happened, I heard this sound like thunder cracking.
"I was walking my Yorkshire terrier and he saved my life, he came to my rescue, he came running up and started digging me out.
"I'm having flashbacks of his head under a branch as he was digging, he was really working hard to get to me.
"Adrenaline was kicking in, while the dog was frantically digging to get to me, he made an area where I could see daylight.
"I was in darkness, I managed to catch hold of his paw, he is a very strong little fella. He managed to help me get through.
"I didn't lose consciousness but it was just darkness."
After the ordeal Mr Myers went straight home and had a cup of tea and the next day went to the GP, who feared he had spinal damage although x-rays showed he had bruising.
Mr Myers added: "They said it will get worse before it gets better, I'm going back next week and have developed a limp.
"The branch hit me on the back of my neck, and a log hit me in the back.
"Hopefully I have been through the worst of it."
North Yorkshire Council's interim head of highway operations, Jayne Charlton said: "We can confirm we are investigating after branches fell from a horse chestnut tree in a private garden and landed on the neighbouring public footpath.
"A member of the public alerted us to the incident, which we responded to immediately, closing the footpath while the debris was cleared.
"We received a further report that a man walking his dog was hit on the back by a large branch, while a smaller one struck him on the head.
"We have made contact with the landowner to inform them of their responsibilities with regard to the tree, which is subject to a Tree Preservation Order."
