A lost dog found stuck in a drain tunnel last night (Sunday) was rescued thanks the quick efforts of a local dog rescue group and local businessman Jamie from Renodrain.
Holly was first reported missing at around 15:00 but the team Drone SAR Lost Dogs Isle of Wight team weren’t able to coordinate a search until they were notified at around 19:30. The owners said they last saw Holly enter an underground drain tunnel in their garden on Shanklin’s Sibden Road.
At first the team thought she had exited at the far end but after searching, it appeared that the tunnel was blocked. After a risk assessment had been completed, a member of the ground team entered the tunnel but after reaching the first corner, safety concerns meant they had to come out.
The use of a thermal drone was called in, with the high-tech piece of gear used to scan above ground, however Holly wasn’t seen. Working on a hunch that she was still in the tunnel as there had been no sightings all night, the local Drone SAR team called Jamie from Renodrain to see if he could attend and send in his camera.
Jamie arrived and sent in the camera but after the first couple of turns realised he was going to have to go in himself. It wasn’t until Jamie reached 30.15m in that he saw a pair of little eyes staring back at him.
Jamie then crawled backwards with her all the way out where they were met by some of the ground searchers. A slip lead was put on her and she was taken straight into the house to her owners and checked over, dried off and warmed up. Holly was taken to the vets this morning (Monday).
A post on Facebook has said:
“We can’t thank Jamie from RenoDrain enough! He is an absolute superstar! If it wasn’t for him joining our search, we wouldn’t have got her out!
“Great team effort all round. So happy that Holly was found as quickly as she was and now safely tucked up at home and getting some rest after her adventure today.”
Speaking on the rescue mission, Jamie from Renodrain has said:
“As a company who are deeply passionate about giving back and helping the Island community, we are always on hand to help whenever we are needed.”
Well done guys