Published: Thursday, 1st February, 2007 09:55
Sheba to the rescue
By Rachel Lamb
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A QUICK-WITTED dog sparked a rescue mission when she spotted a young man topple over a wall into the freezing waters below.
Roddy MacKinnon was walking along Helensburgh sea-front with pet Sheba when a youth disappeared over the barrier and fell more than 10 feet into the Clyde.
The bright pooch rushed to the spot of the accident while Roddy called the emergency services.
He said: “She must have heard the splash when he went over. There was nobody else about at the time so if Sheba hadn’t noticed him, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
Roddy, aged 52, had taken the Rottweiler–Collie cross out for her evening stroll along the sea-front when they passed the man weaving across the pavement.
He said: “We were between Cairndhu and the Commodore Inn when I saw this young lad. He was all over the place. When we got closer, I realised he was drunk so I put Sheba on the lead and let him go past.
“As soon as I let her off she bounded back. She had her feet up on the wall and was looking over. I thought, 'no, it can’t be', but he had disappeared over the wall.
“It was a bit of a shock. It’s about 10 feet high so my main concern when I realised he had gone over was that he might have broken something.
“I saw him splashing about in the water so I knew he was still conscious. Then he clambered up the steps and I called the police.
“The tide was in, which was lucky for him. If he had fallen in over at the Cairndhu end where the rocks are a bit bigger he would have had no chance.
“He was dripping wet. I was amazed he was still walking. I don’t think he even knew where he was. I got him to sit on the wall and stayed with him until they came to pick him up.”
Roddy and Sheba waited with the youngster until officers arrived on the scene at around 10pm last Saturday.
Roddy, of West King Street in Helensburgh, added: “I knew when he was out and the police had hold of him, he would be OK. I think Sheba knows she’s done good. We are very proud of her.”
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