Great Dane rescued from frozen river

By Andrea McCallum

A 15-STONE Great Dane has been rescued by firefighters from the icy depths of an Edinburgh river.

The dog – named Hector – fell through the ice on the Water of Leith at 10am on Saturday morning.

Fire crews secured a line rescue and had to break through the ice to get the pooch on dry land.

Elaine Philips, 53, saw the drama unfold from her bedroom window on Redbraes Grove, which overlooks the river.

She said: “I was in bed and I heard the ice crack – I knew something must have fallen through it for it to make such a noise.

“I looked out and saw the dog struggling and there was a girl on the other side of the river on her mobile phone.

“I shouted out the window that I would call the fire brigade and then about 20 minutes later four machines turned up outside.

“The dog was distressed and howling but after it was pulled out and towels were round him, his tail was wagging.

“If it had been any other breed of dog I really don’t think it would have survived – its weight helped it stay alive.”

Following the rescue, the dog’s owner rushed to the vet to get her pet a precautionary check-up.

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