by Joe Jeffrey
Dog on brink of death saved by quick-thinking owners
A West Highland Terrier who was feared drowned following being pulled underwater by strong currents at sea has lived to bark another day, thanks to a passing fisherman and her owners’ quick-thinking which saw the pooch being administered with the kiss of life.
Dave and Brenda Rickard, along with their daughter and two grandchildren, were out crabbing when their beloved dog, Daisy, four, lost her footing and slipped off of a quay, falling ten feet into the sea.
Despite Daisy’s resilience to return to shore, the strong current was too much for her, as Dave, 72, told the Mirror: “She was swimming okay but the current was taking her away and eventually she got so weak and gave up.
“Her head went under the water, it was a horrendous scene.”
As luck would have it, a passing fishing boat was alerted to the situation and a fisherman aboard managed to hook a limp Daisy out of the water and deliver the motionless canine back to her owner, Dave, who instinctively gave his four-legged friend Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Dave and wife Brenda, 67, took turns breathing into Daisy’s mouth and rubbing her chest until she came round, at which point the poorly pooch was rushed to a local veterinary surgery for emergency care. Vets warned Daisy’s owners that their pet might be brain damaged due to lack of oxygen, but fortunately for Daisy she made a full recovery and was discharged the following day to enjoy the rest of her caravan holiday.
Dave and Brenda’s daughter, Karen, 36, who witnessed the incident expressed her surprise at Daisy making a full recovery.
“Daisy’s alive and none of us can believe it but good things do happen to good people and my parents are that,” Karen began.
“We are still in shock but miracles do happen. It truly was the most horrific experience of my life. Someone was watching over us, I totally believe that.”
