WOODY the four-year-old border collie had a lucky escape on Friday night after falling 30 feet into the River Avon and becoming stranded on a ledge.

He had been walking with his owner near the Avonside Enterprise Park in Melksham, when he playfully jumped over a nearby wall, unaware that on the other side was a steep drop into the river.

The pooch managed to paddle to the side of the bank and pull himself up onto a storm drain where he perched for safety, while his panicked owner rang emergency services for help just before 10pm.

Specialist animal rescue officer Adam Martin and a water rescue crew from Trowbridge were dispatched and on arrival they used a large inflatable walkway to get in the water and paddle over to Woody, who swiftly hopped on.

“He was cold, that’s the best way to describe it,” said Guy Tadman, Trowbridge Fire Station watch manager. 

“Woody jumped over the wall and obviously did not anticipate a large drop on the other side.

“The owner was trying to get him to stay where he was, as it was very dark and the water was quite deep. He was worried he would swim upstream but he was quite happy perched on a ledge.

“It took about half an hour from when we were first called by his owner, a man who was visiting the area for the day, until he was rescued.”

Mr Tadman added: “When the lads rode over to him on the inflatable walkway, he jumped on the inflatable straight away.”

Although cold, Woody was unhurt and reunited with his relieved owner before being taken home to warm up.