Moment jogger rescues eight-month-old Cockapoo called Fudge after the excitable puppy plunged into the Thames
- Fudge the puppy skidded down a steep embankment into fast-flowing water
- Luckily jogger Yousef sprang into action and saved the pup with quick-thinking
- Fudge is now resting up at home and being kept well away from waterways
Dramatic video footage has emerged of a puppy rescue from the River Thames near Kew Gardens.
Fudge, a cockapoo, aged eight months, was being taken for a walk, but the excitable youngster skidded down the steep embankment into the fast-flowing water.
Passers-by rushed to help the owner, Marguerite Mungovan, who edged her way down the embankment to try and reach the puppy without success.
Jogger, Yousef Al-Asfour, sprung into action and after assessing the situation used a nearby ladder in order to get closer to the furiously paddling puppy.
Fudge, a cockapoo, aged eight months, was being taken for a walk, but the excitable youngster skidded down the steep embankment
When Fudge swam close enough, Yousef, who is a personal trainer in south west London, managed to swoop him up by his collar and carry him back up the ladder and into the waiting arms of his owner who in turn thanked him.
Marguerite said: “I was so worried when Fudge first slipped in and it only got worse when I realised I couldn’t reach him myself.
‘Fudge has paddled around in a few ponds before, but has never been out of his depth. The fact that he was able to swim towards our calls and actively tried to get to Yousef and help was such a relief.
‘We were so lucky that Yousef was nearby and were delighted with how well he handled the situation. He received a few scratches while negotiating the rescue, but insisted he was just very happy to have been able to help.’
Yousef Al-Asfour (pictured) is a personal trainer from south west London who was out jogging at the time
Yousef, who lives in St Margarets, said: ‘I was worried at first because we couldn’t reach Fudge. I am just happy that he is safe and well.’
Fudge is now resting up at home and being kept well away from any nearby waterways for the foreseeable future
When Fudge swam close enough, Yousef, who is a personal trainer in south west London, managed to swoop him up by his collar
The video was captured by a passer-by, Charmaine Evans, on Thursday morning, who said she was ‘so pleased’ that Fudge had survived the ordeal
Yousef, who lives in St Margarets, said: ‘I was worried at first because we couldn’t reach Fudge. I am just happy that he is safe and well.’
Marguerite took young Fudge to a vet in Twickenham for a check-up after his scare, The vet reported that the only injuries were some slight damage to his front nails from trying to climb the hard embankment.
Fudge is now resting up at home and being kept well away from any nearby waterways for the foreseeable future.
The video was captured by a passer-by, Charmaine Evans, on Thursday morning, who said she was ‘so pleased’ that Fudge had survived the ordeal.