A terrified dog was swallowed by a 50ft sinkhole but miraculously survived after a passing walker heard its bark and called for help.
Gemma Lampard, 35, was walking her dogs when she heard the desperate yelp coming from the fenced-off sinkhole and 'went over to investigate.
She couldn't see the dog but she was concerned enough to call Kent Fire and Rescue, who arrived and launched a drone to see if they could spot the terrified pooch - before lowering a firefighter in to complete the rescue.
Dog lover Gemma believes it's a case of "right place, right time", as she rarely walks her dogs in that area, but if she hadn't been there on Thursday, May 4, then the wayward spaniel might have died.
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Gemma, from Greenhithe, Kent, said: "It's just so lucky that I was there. I wasn't going to go and if I'd known the area better, I would have avoided the sink hole because of the dogs.
"I decided to go because if you walk through the fields you can get to the woods and I thought the dogs wouldn't get too hot.
"One of the dogs was sticking its head through a fence, I thought it must have been a ball but I heard barking. I sent a video to a dog walking group asking what to do.
"I called Kent Fire and Rescue and the RSPCA who said it could be a badger sett because they can sound like dogs barking but I knew it wasn't a badger.
"It was a sheer drop so I couldn't see anything. It was open at the top then it just dropped and went quite narrow, it was about the size of a car.
"It was fenced off but she must have got through it.
"The dog was in distress and wouldn't be able to get out on its own. The rescue team came and one abseiled down with a bag to get her.
"I could hear them talking on the radio as he was down there and he said it was about 15 metres deep.
"When she came up, she was terrified. She was panting, legs shaking, red eyes. She was so relieved.
"I was expecting her to have broken legs because it was quite a drop but she was alright. It was right place, right time. She could have died."
The RSPCA scanned the dog's microchip but unfortunately, the contact details were out of date, so for now she's with the local dog warden.
Vicki Hudson, 52, from The Missing Paw Team, said: "Gemma put a video of a dog barking in an empty field and wasn't sure what to do. We went to assess the situation to make sure it wasn't a badger sett.
"It was a 50-foot hole. It's been there for about two years and it's fenced off but the dog must have got under. There was absolutely no way it was going to get out unassisted.
"The rescue team put a drone up to see if they could see the dog and pumped air in the hole in case there was gas so their officers would be able to breathe.
"She was possibly only down there for the day but we don't know. She was terrified, she seemed relieved and happy when they brought her up. She had quite a big drink."
A Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a dog stuck at the bottom of a deep sinkhole in Farningham Woods, Dartford.
"The animal rescue unit was sent to the scene, as well as the technical rescue unit and a line rescue crew. The RSPCA also attended.
"Firefighters used line rescue equipment to lower themselves into the hole and retrieve the dog safely.
"If you own a pet, always make sure to keep tabs on them when out and about, and if they do get into trouble and need rescuing from height or depth, don't try to do it yourself. If it's an emergency, call 999 for help."
South East RSPCA have been contacted for comment.
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