Drama as woman and dog pulled from 35ft cesspit

The woman desperately clung to her german shepherd dog's choker chain after it fell down a 35ft cesspit near Ramsden Park Road in Ramsden Heath.

Friends lowered her down headfirst and held her by her knees as she grabbed Charlie's chain.

She frantically wrestled to hold on to the panicking dog, which was twisting around the cesspit trying to keep his head above water, while firefighters were called.

Leading firefighter Sean Norris, from Billericay, said: "When we arrived, the woman's hand and arm had gone numb and the dog was choking. Thirty seconds later and we would have been too late.

"The hole, which was uncovered, measured about 3ft. Only the fact that the brave woman was holding on kept the dog from drowning."

Mr Norris, who admits he is not fond of dogs, was first winched down feet-first but could not grab hold of the hefty dog.

Firefighters then decided to lower a 35ft ladder down the pit, but the water came high above the top rung.

Mr Norris said: "The woman was so desperate we had to do something, so the crew tied a rope around my feet and waist and lowered me down headfirst.

"I managed to grab the dog and as I hauled it up, the woman came too until we were all out."

Unfortunately, the woman's vice-like grip on the dog chain took its toll and one of her fingers was virtually wrenched off, with just a flap of skin holding it together.

She went into shock and was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where surgeons successfully stitched her finger back on.

Mr Norris said: "The manhole was at least 35ft deep if not more.

"I dread to think what could have happened.

"If the woman had jumped in after the dog, she would probably have been overcome by fumes and drowned."

Rescue - leading firefighter Sean Norris examines the cesspit from which he pulled a dog and its woman owner.

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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