Ferry workers form human chain to save puppy from sea

♦ Ferry staff formed a human chain to rescue a dog stranded at sea after it was carried away while chasing sea gulls.

Bertie the golden labrador was saved when a woman waiting for a ferry noticed the puppy struggling to keep its head above the water.

She informed staff at the Wightlink ferry terminal in Ryde, Isle of Wight, who coaxed the nine-month-old dog to Ryde Pier, which spans almost half a mile out to sea. The three workers formed a human chain and plucked the exhausted animal out of the water.

Rescuers Scott Harvey, Mike Parsons and Dave Prangnell then took Bertie to the ticket office where it was fed biscuits before falling fast asleep. Bertie’s rescuers then took to social media in the hope of finding its owner. Mr Harvey said: “It was lucky we found him and got him out when we did.”

Rob Gale, Bertie’s owner, had been searching for his dog when he noticed the Facebook post. Mr Gale, also from Ryde, said: “He’s only nine months old, he was chasing seagulls and ran into the water. I was whistling for him, but under the pier sounds just echo around. He couldn’t work out where I was and just kept on swimming.”

Karen Woods, a Wightlink spokesman, said: “Thanks to the quick reactions of our staff, everyone left with a happy ending.”