AN elderly dog walker came within minutes of drowning in a manure heap after trying to rescue his pooch from the dung pile.
Brian Marshall managed to extract the pet but then found himself trapped and sinking into the slurry.
The 75-year-old was only saved after his cries for help were heard by a local who raised the alarm.
Mr Marshall, who has previously survived a serious car crash and getting hit on the head with a cricket ball, was extracted by specialist emergency teams in a lengthy and tricky operation.
The incident happened just outside the village of Ickwell, Beds, on Sunday.
Brian, who lives a few minutes away from the scene of the accident, was walking his two Jack Russells, Bella and Archie.
Bella, 16, managed to get stuck in manure in a nearby field and, despite trespassing, Brian took it upon himself to free her.
It was while helping his pet that Brian himself fell in and began to sink into the slurry. A remarkable picture of the scene shows Brian stuck on his back but still holding on to one of his dogs with an extendable lead.
Brian said he was minutes from death when a passer-by heard his cries for help and intervened.
He said: “I’m grateful to be alive. I gave up trying to get out. I lost my phone in there so couldn’t use it and I’d have gone if [Matt Hollick] did not hear me.
“I was completely and utterly locked in place and slipping away but he kept talking to me all the time.
“The emergency services were also amazing and I’ve seen the best of life. I’m a bloody fool!”
Brian revealed that this was not his first brush with death.
“In 1971, I was hit by a car being chased by the police and I had serious injuries but I rate this one as nearer death than that.
“In 1978, I was hit in the head with a cricket ball during a game and was in intensive care for a week. I’m not accident prone, I’m a fighter.”
The rescue mission was reported by the community fire station in Sandy, Bedfordshire, who posted two images of rescue teams in action.
The images were captioned with the post: “Sandy Community Fire Station were joined by colleagues from Kempston Community Fire Station and HART [Hazardous Area Response Team] Ambulance teams earlier this afternoon to rescue a person from a manure heap between Caldecote and Ickwell.
“Crews used inflatable hose, inflatable rescue paths and dry suits to rescue a casualty who was stuck up to their neck in the heap for more than an hour after attempting to rescue their dog.
“Both dog and owner were successfully rescued and transported to hospital for treatment.”
Paul Barrows, Watch Commander at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue, who was in charge of the rescue operation, said that Brian was very fortunate.
He said: “He’s spent an hour in there up to his neck and it’s taken us around half an hour to get him out.
“He wasn’t hypothermic which was extremely lucky. Had Matt not found him, he would have died in there and not found until they were spreading the muck in the field in a few months.”
Local hero Matt Hollick, an ex-police officer, was visiting the nearby vet when he heard cries of help from the field.
After discovering Brian’s plight, he stayed with him and phoned emergency services.
Matt said: “I think he was happy to have someone calming him and giving him the confidence to spread out and that there was a plan to keep him safe.
“It shows the benefit of previous police training.”
Online, the rescuers were praised for their efforts in freeing the dog walker.
Lisa Trinier wrote: “Well done everyone involved. Must have been very scary.”
Ciara Wilmot said: “Poor man must have been terrified, glad it all ended well.”
Some social media users commented in jest about the incident.
Wayne Gutteridge said: “Sounds like a pretty sh** situation to be in to be honest. Glad they are alright though.”
Charles Morgan commented: “They were in deep s*.”
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue have issued a warning following the incident for anyone who loses a pet in similar circumstances to call emergency services immediately before putting themselves in danger.
