An elderly dog who spent three days trapped down a six foot sewage drain has made a remarkable recovery.
Sprocker spaniel Ebb ended up neck-deep in dirty water for about 72 hours after vanishing on a walk near Great Henny, near Sudbury, Suffolk, last Saturday.
Thankfully, the clever 10-year-old dog managed to sit upright throughout her ordeal, keeping her head above the water until she was rescued.
Despite their extensive searches, owners Michael and Louise Cromwell were unable to find their beloved dog after she darted into undergrowth during their walk, leaving them fearing they'd never see her again.
But on Tuesday, they had one last search, crawling on their hands and knees in a field near the village of Great Henny.
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Eventually Louise came across a drain cover and when it was lifted, there was Ebb six feet down and up to her neck in filthy water.
Music publisher Michael, 33, managed to grab hold of her and drag her out ending her three day ordeal.
They drove her to the vet's and remarkably her only injuries were swollen legs where she’d been sitting upright to avoid drowning.
He said: “After three days I’d really thought we had lost her.
“She’d been in that filthy drain water in the cold and dark and must have been terrified.
“She has managed to escape with no breaks or fractures and just an infection and fever.
She was completely exhausted, but seems to be recovering well and is on antibiotics.
“The vets said it was a miracle.”
The couple had put out an appeal on Facebook for help to find her.
He added: “I can’t thank people enough for their help and support. I was really moved by everyone’s actions.”
It comes after a dog spent 11 days stuck underground after disappearing down a badger's sett.
Owner Victoria Hogan camped out in the woods after her border terriers, Freda, darted down the hole.
She was warned against doing anything for 48 hours by the Park Ranger and RSPCA as it's illegal to disturb a badger's den.
The dog finally darted back out of the sett in Lickey Hills Country Park, near Birmingham, after a long 264 hours.
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