When Glynis Elgey's terrier disappeared during a countryside walk, she feared the worst. After beloved four-year-old Krakka failed to return for two days, it felt like she had lost her companion for good. But in a remarkable rescue involving drone technology, a barely visible Krakka was discovered buried in a rabbit warren, trapped by a mini landslide.
Rescuers were led to the exact spot by following her whimpers, arriving just in time as the terrier's snout was only just above the soil. The specialist dog tracking team took 25 minutes to dig her out of the compacted earth near Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire.
Ms Elgey said: 'I was so excited when we found her and she was alive. The first thing she did when we got her out was give me a kiss. She always comes back – she never wanders too far and I thought something is stopping her coming back.'
After Krakka went missing on April 30, a friend recommended contacting Steve Priestman from Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK, which reunites missing dogs with owners. Mr Priestman said: 'We tried searching with a drone but couldn't find any sign of her.' After a day and a half with no sightings, they focused on 'somewhere less obvious'.
Ms Elgey said they then came across an area covered in nettles, and her partner David Hudson heard a whimper – it was Krakka. 'So, then we set to digging – all we could see was a paw. We were so thrilled – we thought we would never see her again.'
A video recorded the moment the plucky pet was hauled to safety. A spokesman for Drone SAR For Lost Dogs UK said: 'Thankfully while on the search a whimper was heard from a rabbit hole where it's believed Krakka had gone into. The recovery began by DSAR pilot Steve Priestman, ground searcher Jennifer Zarek, along with owners David Hudson and Glynis Elgey. They dug her out, which took around 25 minutes.'
