Dog owner hires a digger to rescue missing Jack Russell from disused pipe after she became stuck for four days

A dog trapped underground for four days in a drainage tunnel was rescued when its owner hired a digger to get her out.

Lulu the Jack Russell disappeared down the unused pipe last Friday at Boveney Lock in Dorney, Buckinghamshire, when owner Gail Fraiser took her for a walk.

But after darting into the 60cm-wide pipe under a car park she got stuck when she was unable to turn around because of rubble narrowing the tube.



Crew Manager Pete Skinner is pictured emerging with Lulu the Jack Russell from an opening cut into the pipe



Ms Fraiser hired a digger to get to her pet but a passerby saw what was happening and contacted the fire brigade





Rescue workers dig a square piece of land where they believe the puppy to be stuck in the drainage tunnel

Ms Fraiser called the RSPCA but was told if she could hear Lulu barking the likelihood was she would find a way out of the disused pipe.

They advised her to wait it out but as the days passed she became more and more anxious.




Lulu, aged five, barked non-stop for four days and kept herself alive by drinking the trickle of water collected at the bottom of the pipe.


Firefighters said there was a risk of the situation becoming hazardous so they stepped in to help with the rescue

Getting desperate, Ms Fraiser decided to hire her own JCB to cut the dog free.


However, a passerby alerted the local fire service and they stepped in and launched a six-hour operation to rescue Lulu.

A five-strong team used the digger, cutting equipment, spades and shovels to excavate a wide hole to get to the pipe which was more than eight feet underground.

They then smashed their way into the drain and lifted Lulu free.

Social worker Ms Fraiser said: 'The fire service have been brilliant, it shows there are some really good people about.'

Fire brigade station manager Doug Gruchy said: 'Lulu's owner had organised her own search, but the situation was in danger of becoming hazardous.

'We took the decision to carry out this rescue because of our concern for the safety of her search party as well as for Lulu's welfare.

'We are obviously delighted that it has had a happy ending.'

He added: 'It's quite understandable that an owner, when faced with a situation like this, will want to go to extraordinary lengths to save a pet.

'But our advice to pet owners is to contact the RSPCA in the event of an incident of this type. They will then liaise with us if specialist rescue skills and equipment become necessary.'

Firefighters have now closed off the entrances to the pipe and an adjacent one to prevent a repeat of the drama.






They eventually managed to get to the tunnel underneath about four feet of earth




A rescuer had to get right into the tunnel to pull Lulu free. She had survived by lapping up water that trickled underneath her



A relieved Ms Fraiser pictured with her dog moments after she was pulled free from the tunnel