A Northwood mother has spoken of her gratitude for firefighters who rescued her stranded dog from an island in the middle of Stockers Lake and rowed her to safety.

Annie Harvey, 50, was walking Bess, an eight-year-old Jack Russell, with her daughter Elsie Harvey, 15, around the Rickmansworth a Aquadrome on a lead on Saturday (April 13) when she suddenly pulled away from her owners after spotting some geese.

Annie, of Highfield Road, Northwood, tried to call the former rescue dog back but she dived into the lake in pursuit of the birds and eventually climbed out on one of the many islands.

While on the island the small dog’s lead became tangled in the undergrowth, preventing her from getting back in to the water.

After realising she was trapped, Annie walked to the rangers’ office but found it closed so was forced to call the police non-emergency number for advice and was eventually connected to Rickmansworth fire station.

Firefighters arrived in minutes to assess the situation before returning to the station to collect the inflatable raft.

Watford Observer:

Annie admitted she was left red faced after watching the fire crews donned dry suits to carry out a full scale rescue to retrieve the beloved pet.

She said: "They were so helpful but I was quite embarrassed by the whole thing.

"They all took it in very good spirits but I was really, really embarrassed.

"They were just lovely and seemed happy to be doing it, even though it was a miserable wet day, she looked petrified as two of the firemen approached in their boat but quietly got in the boat.

"They were real stars, such nice blokes, I even think Bess quite liked them as she licked one of them on his face."

Annie said her passion for paddling may have been crystallised six years ago when they adopted her as a rescue dog with a broken leg.

They were encouraged by the vet to get her swimming to rebuild strength in the leg and she has been a fan of the water ever since.

Annie said: "She does do this sort of thing, that’s why whenever she’s near water we keep her on a lead because she cannot help herself.

"When we first got her she had broken her leg and the vet said the best way to rehabilitate her was to encourage her to swim so it may be partly down to that."

And after her worrying experience Bess settled down for a long nap.

Annie said: "She slept for hours and hours when we got home.

"But I was so embarrassed I couldn’t bear that to ever happen again."