Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness Standard 1962

Three men risked their lives to rescue dog

THREE men risked their lives on Friday afternoon when they rescued an 11-year-old, partially blind and lame dog called Sandy from a 50ft. square sewage digestion tank at the Skegness U.D.C.’s Middlemarsh Works at Croft.

Attracted by howling from the direction of the tank, Reg. Lambert, of Lancaster Avenue, David Ghent, of Sunningdale Drive, and Ray Hickson, of Winthorpe, rushed over and saw the animal clawing away in the centre of the stinking sludge.

Planks were laid across the 10ft. deep layer of sewage and the men scrambled across to put a rope around the dog’s neck. They were just in time, for when they reached Sandy his head was only just above the surface.
Apart from the smell, a coating of black sludge and constant shivering, on dry land again Sandy appeared little the worse for his frightening experience.

FRIGHTENED
That the three men risked their lives for the dog’s in the half cannot be disputed. Commented an eye-witness : “It was a question of risking human lives or seeing the dog sink under.”

Sandy did not help matters either, for being frightened, he barked, snapped and obstructed his three rescuers.
The men returned to their work at the Station and left the bedraggled dog tied to some railings, awaiting the R.S.P.C.A.
Miss Lesley Manger, of Derby Avenue, a worker for this organisation, arrived with P.c. F. E. Pitts, who is in charge of stray dogs at Skegness, and she recognised Sandy as the dog owned by Mr. and Mrs. T. Hill, confectioners, of Arcadia Road, who live at “Oakdene,” Dorothy Crescent.
After a wash and brush up Sandy was bundled into the back of the police Land-Rover and taken to his home.
Mrs. Hill said afterwards that Sandy had been missed when he had not returned from his usual daily walk around the Clock Tower. She was very surprised when she heard he had reached Croft, for last year he tore ligaments in one of his legs and since then has not been able to walk at all well.
Mrs. Hill was very surprised that the tank from which Sandy was rescued was not protected by wire mesh or some other form of covering. She was very grateful; to the men and intended going to see them to thank them for their gallantry.
A cross between Golden Labrador and Alsatian, this is at least the second time that Sandy has been rescued from death. Eleven years ago he was due to be put to sleep, but Mr. and Mrs. Hill’s son, Billy, took a liking to him and he has been with the family ever since. Apart, that is, from his walks around the Clock Tower” and the occasional trip to Croft.