Lifeboat crews saved a woman from the River Thames after she became stranded while attempting to rescue her dog. The incident occurred near Wandsworth, where the woman was left knee-deep in water, clinging to a ladder.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) released footage of the rescue on Monday, urging the public not to follow pets into the water. The video shows a lifeboat from Chiswick RNLI assisting the terrified woman, who pleaded, “Don’t let me go.”
The dog, a Labrador, was also rescued and brought onto the boat to cheers from onlookers. The woman, who was uninjured, explained that the dog had slipped under a railing after sniffing food and lost its footing.
The rescue took place on September 9 and was the seventh dog-related callout for the RNLI this year. Helmsman Glen Monroe said the woman was unable to help her dog back up the ladder, and firefighters on shore could not reach her. “Our attendance prevented this situation from deteriorating,” he said.
Monroe advised owners to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard rather than entering the water themselves. “We can reach a distressed dog very quickly and return it safely to its owner,” he added.
