Leeds woman and her dog rescued after dramatic 30ft plunge into river

A dog owner who fell 30ft into the River Wharfe, while searching for her dog, was dramatically rescued after she broke her arm in the fall.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews rushed to save the woman who fell into the River Wharfe at around 11.30am on September 18. Crews from Wetherby Fire Station were called to Deepdale Lane in Boston Spa after a woman was spotted in the water, where she had fallen down off a cliff edge into the river.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also saved her dog after responding to reports of a woman in the river.

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The witness who called the emergency services said the injured woman had a broken arm. This meant she was unable to swim and get out of the water. Pictures from the scene at the time showed firefighters, police and paramedics in attendance.

Technical Rescue Officer Mick Loney from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said falling down a cliff into the river had left the woman with several injuries.

A woman and her dog were rescued from River Wharf on Sunday morning (September 18) (Leeds Live)

He said: “Crews, supported by colleagues from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and West Yorkshire Police rescued the female from the water and she was treated on the bank before being transported to hospital. It was then identified that the female had got into difficulty in the first place because she was searching for her dog.”

Rescue crews located the dog on the cliff. They used a two-line system to descend and rescue the dog - who was successfully reunited with the owner’s father.

Mick Loney added: “We all love our pets, but they are incredibly resilient and far more agile than we are as owners. If your pet gets itself into a difficult situation, please call the fire service and don’t put yourself at risk.”

Ambulance crews and West Yorkshire Police officers were also at the scene.

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