Heroic dad jumps into canal to rescue a drowning baby deer

This is the moment a 'heroic' dad ditched his cosy night in with takeout to rescue a drowning fawn - diving topless into a murky canal to save the young deer's life.

Julie and Denver Kendall had just sat down for their Sunday treat when their son Chris, 24, called in a panic after spotting the startled deer had fallen into the water and was struggling to swim.

The couple, both 54, then ran from their home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, to Kirkless Local Nature Reserve, where they found the small creature battling to stay above water and unable to escape due to the high walls.

In the clip, dad-of-three Denver has whipped off his top and dived into the mossy depths, where he can seen wrestling to get his own dog's lead around its neck so it can be dragged to safety.

With the help of two onlookers, Denver and Chris then manage to haul the frightened animal out of the canal to safety, before it leaps off into the distance full-of-life.

Julie, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, said: "It's not something you expect on a Sunday night.

"My son Chris was out for a walk - that's when we got the phone call. He attracts nature. It always happens no matter where he goes.

"Our tea had just been delivered. We were being lazy and having a Chinese takeaway.

"Just as we were running out the door the takeaway was arriving. I thought 'oh flipping heck, I don't believe this'."

Despite their dinner being interrupted, the kind-hearted couple raced out of their home, grabbing a dog lead and towel on the way, before running 400 metres to the scene.

Julie said: "We live along the Leeds Liverpool canal. It's just a nice nature reserve.

"My son was walking on top of the 'rabbit rocks' with his fiancée and their two dogs.

"I think they were a little bit startled by seeing people and they've ran.

"These two deer ran past them and one of them went in one direction and the other went towards the canal.

"I think it'd misjudged the jump over the canal. The 'rabbit rocks' are a mound of rocks and when you're at the top you can see for miles and miles.

"That little one overdid it and went in the water. It'd run and not realised how close the canal was to where it landed."

Chip shop owner Julie then stood at the side-lines shouting encouragement as Denver and Chris waded through the water trying to fasten the loop of the dog lead around the deer's neck - before pulling it to the side where it was hoisted out.

Julie said: "They had the deer a couple of times prior to them getting it - it just kept escaping.

"It was luckily in the lock rather than the whole of the canal. If it'd gone in the whole canal it'd be swimming forever.

"My husband took our dog's lead because my son couldn't let his dogs off the lead.

"I took a towel knowing they would need it and by the time I'd got there, my son and Denver were already in the water.

"There were a couple of other gentleman also on site trying to assist and reassure them.

"The entire rescue mission took about 25 minutes."

After finding itself on solid ground, the deer then jumped up on its legs and dashed off, briefly looking over at its rescuers before running into the distance.

As Denver hauled himself out of the water, his face had blood pouring from two wounds as he had been scratched by the deer's antlers.

Julie said: "The deer was approximately one-year-old. It did a little look around as if to thank you then off it popped.

"I saw the blood coming from Denver's face. He must have been caught by the antler. He said his eye was a bit bruised this morning but he's fine."

After Julie posted the clip on social media, Denver and Chris were hailed as heroes for rescuing the cute animal - with one Facebook user branding them heroes.

Christine Clayton said: "Bloody heroes the lot of you. Now get in a nice hot disinfected shower."

Natalie Gallagher said: "Awwww this is brilliant! Well done Denver, Chris and everyone involved, I love this."

Rita Wallace said: "This is brilliant! Well done."