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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Asmita Sarkar & Nia Dalton

Missing dog back in owner's arms after four days trapped down deep 12ft mineshaft

Olive the Labrador had an emotional reunion with her owner after being trapped down a 12ft old mineshaft for four days.

Jo Belton and daughter Charlotte declared the two-year-old dog missing when she vanished during a countryside walk on the outskirts of Sheffield.

A search party of volunteers from Homebound Animal Rescue Response Team Search and Rescue formed, and used drones and thermal imaging cameras to try and track her down.

When Olive still wasn't found, hope faded - but then family friend, Phil Robinson, heard a whimper and discovered the red fox lab stuck down a big opening which was covered in long grass.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue helped Olive to safety (HART SAR / SWNS)
Olive was lifted out of the 12ft mineshaft (HART SAR / SWNS)

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Olive had fallen down the 12ft mineshaft and landed unharmed at the bottom. She was able to survive by drinking water that dripped down the walls.

Due to the uncertainty of the depth of the shaft, the search and rescue charity alerted the fire brigade who came to save the day.

A firefighter went down the shaft with a rope and ladder and gave the scared dog some food and water to calm her down.

Then he picked Olive up and carried her to the surface to be reunited with her delighted owners.

Olive looked just as excited as Jo and Charlotte as she ran into their arms with a wagging tail.

It was an emotional moment after four days of searching (HART SAR / SWNS)

The area has since been fenced off as preparation to fill the hole in has begun, and Olive has been checked by a vet - who confirmed she was miraculously unharmed.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "What an adventure this little lady has had. After no sightings, no leads, we all felt a bit at a loss.

"It has been a wild ride to get this baby girl home but now she's back in safe arms.

"This is no longer a risk to any pup or anyone for that matter."

No dogs will ever be able to fall down the mineshaft again (HART SAR / SWNS)

Another dog who was presumed dead has been found and rescued from a cliff - with the help of half a sausage roll.

Henry went missing along the South West Coast Path in Cornwall and couldn't be found by rescuers.

It was concluded the dog had probably fallen down a fissure and died, leaving his owners devastated.

Then on Sunday 10 April, Boscastle Coastguard Team and Bude Coastal Rescue Teams were paged, when reports came in of a barking dog down a 20ft fissure.

The team set to work and used a rope rescue kit to retrieve Henry, along with the best method of extraction, a trusty sausage roll.

Henry was pulled to safety and reunited with his parents at last.

Do you have a dog story to tell? Contact nia.dalton@reachplc.com.

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