Lost and hound: firefighters save dog trapped underground for 24 hours

By Bradley Stokes via SWNS

Firefighters specializing in disasters saved a dog trapped 24 hours in a 15 ft underground burrow.

The mission involved camera and listening gear normally used in incidents like building collapses and earthquakes.

Relieved owner Richard Hill, 55, told how he could hearthe 11-year-old Jack Russell named Freddy whimper underground but was unable to reach him.

"I really thought I had seen Freddy for the very last time," said the TV cameraman.

"I have to say a huge thank you to the firefighters, they were just unbelievable."

It is believed Freddy was chasing a rabbit when he got trapped down a narrow hole in Blackroot Pool, Sutton Coldfield, England.

After locating him, rescuers dug a 6 ft by 9 ft crater to reach the pooch.

Thankfully, after two hours of digging, firefighters hauled the exhausted dog to safety on Tuesday (Nov 22) morning.

“Freddy is epileptic and needs to take medication, so I was very worried he was gone for good," Richard said.

"It was just incredible when he ran out of the hole after the rescue, it was just like nothing had happened.

"He's still a bit of an orange color because of the color of the soil. He'll definitely be staying on the lead the next time we go out for a walk.”

A recuse operation had to be launched for a distressed dog trapped underground for 24 hours. (WMFS Sutton via SWNS).

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Richard, from Surrey, had been visiting his elderly mother in Sutton Coldfield when he took Freddy for a walk on Monday (Nov 21) morning.

Freddy dashed off and despite desperate attempts by Richard to retrieve his beloved pet, he was unable to find him.

Richard reluctantly gave up the search when it got dark but returned Tuesday morning and called 999 when he could hear Freddy’s cries for help.

West Midland Fire and Rescue Service found Richard, who used the What3Word app to help firefighters find his exact location.

Rescuers were later joined by the RSPCA and a technical rescue unit from Wednesbury fire station to aid the rescue.

Finally At 10: 20 AM, the team sent a stop message after successfully freeing Freddy from his ordeal - which was live tweeted by crews.

West Midlands Fire Service tweeted:

“Freddy’s free! The Jack Russell disappeared down a hole in Sutton Park a day ago. Sutton Coldfield fire crew came to the rescue this morning and, after two hours' hard digging, located the four-legged adventurer. The RSPCA confirmed Freddy's none the worse for his underground ordeal.”

A spokesman for the fire service added: “We received a call from the owner of a dog who said his Jack Russell had been down a hole in Sutton Park since Monday morning.

“We have a fire engine from Sutton with five firefighters, who were on the scene in just three minutes. They were joined a little bit later by colleagues from the technical rescue unit based in Wednesbury.

“The owner had used the What3Words app – tricky, digit, farms – to help the crew to get right to him. They met at Town Gate.

“The dog was down a hole of unknown depth and unknown distance. He had been trapped for 24 hours by the time we had the call.

“The owner had heard the dog down the hole and said it sounded as if it was in distress. Crews started to dig down and tried to clear access to the dog. The RSPCA were there as well.

"At 10.20am we received the stop message which said the dog, Freddy, had been released using shovels and digging. Eventually the firefighters dug a hole two meters by three meters deep.

“The dog ran out of the hole as they got closer to him. He was checked by the RSPCA and didn’t need any medical attention. We did have a relieved owner.”