Man on trip to Littlehampton beach feared death during dog rescue

Murray Heather, 33, said his “instinct kicked in” when he saw the dog in the waves and he jumped in with his keys and wallet still in his pockets.

But he struggled in the strong currents and cold and ended up being treated for hypothermia by coastguard teams.

Murray, a photographer from Croydon, was on a day trip to Littlehampton to meet family with his girlfriend Iona Duncan when the drama happened on Monday.

The coastguard and people on the beach wrapped Murray in blankets and coats after he saved the dog (Image: Iona Duncan)

The coastguard issued a warning after the incident urging people not to risk their lives for pets who get stuck in the water.

Murray told The Argus: “We were just walking our dog on the beach and heard this woman screaming that her dog was stuck in the water. It was really struggling to swim.

“I thought if nothing was done it would drown. Instinct kicked in and I jumped in after it.

“It was a strong current, I managed to get hold of the dog and grab it by its collar and get to the bank.

Murray was taken to hospital but returned to London (Image: Iona Duncan)

“There were a couple of points where I thought ‘this is it, I’m going to die’ but I knew I had to try and save the dog. I couldn’t let it just drown.

“It felt like it was two minutes, it felt really surreal. I carried the dog but I was so tired. My feet were hurting because I was barefoot on stone and they were cold.

“It was just a relief that I hadn’t died and the dog was OK.”

Iona said people enjoying the bank holiday Monday were “screaming and crying” as they saw Murray “bobbing” away from the beach while trying to save the dog, which was said to be a collie-type breed.

She said: “I hadn’t realised he decided to jump in because I was at the other end of the beach. When I saw he decided to do that I knew that it was an unsafe thing to do. By the time I ran to shout for him to come back, he was committed and his head was bobbing along.

Murray thought he was 'going to die' when he jumped in to save the dog (Image: Iona Duncan)

“I was just panicked. I called the coastguard several times. It was very scary.

“It’s the Murray that I know who would do something like that, I haven’t given him a slap on the wrist.

“Obviously it’s extremely dangerous but the fact he did it, I think he should be honoured for saving the dog.

“He dropped to his knees and the dog ran off.

“People were helping while we waited for coastguards, he had coats piled on top of him.”

File image of Littlehampton beach (Image: Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team)

The dog was reunited with its owner.

Coastguard teams, South East Coast Ambulance and Littlehampton RNLI were called to the rescue.

Connie Phelps, of HM Coastguard, said: “If your dog does get into difficulty at the coast, please don’t be tempted to rescue them yourself, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

“Around the UK’s coast, we respond to incidents where people have risked their own lives to save their dogs from the sea or cliffs, sometimes with tragic consequences.  

 “Please, don’t risk your life."