Bulldog Rocky's life saved by firefighters after crashing through ice in Pontefract Park lake

Rocky ran across the frozen lake while his owner, Ingrida Valaisaite, turned around to put him back on his lead during a walk with her children.

Ingrida said: “For such a young dog, he was really well behaved while he was off of the lead, running around but still listening to me and coming back when I called.

“But as we were approaching the lake from the racecourse, I turned around to get his lead but he must have heard the birds on the ice.

“I turned back around and I just saw him dashing towards them across the lake - he was really running with a purpose.

“People were shouting for him to come back, I was hoping the ice would be strong enough to hold him.

“But he crashed through. He managed to climb back out onto the ice, but then he just continued to run after birds until he’d gone further into the middle of the lake and he just crashed through the ice again and this time got stuck."

Ingrida said she had to stop her son from running in after him.

“When he went through the second time, I thought he’d be able to pull himself out again, but he couldn’t," she said.

"The ice was much thinner in the middle of the lake and his back end was completely under, he was getting so tired trying to keep his head above the ice.”

Onlookers stood by the lake and called his name to encourage him to come back, but after a few minutes Ingrada knew he wasn’t able to pull himself out.

One bystander bravely jumped into the freezing lake to try and retrieve Rocky.

Ingrida called the fire service, who instructed that nobody was to go in the water until they arrived on the scene.

Ingrida said: “Rocky kept fighting trying to get out but the ice was breaking around him - he was moving his front to stay afloat.

“Everyone could see that he was hanging on but he was not moving, luckily the fire crew arrived when they did.

“One of the firemen came out in a waterproof suit with a life jacket, inflatables and metal rod to break the ice.

“It was surprising how strong Rocky is. He spent 20 minutes paddling to keep himself floating.

“It took the fireman a few minutes to save him, his team pulled both him and Rocky out.”

“Another five minutes I don't know if my dog would have made it out alive, he had already done a lot of running around the racecourse and he was so weak when he came out.”

A team of people carried Rocky to Ingrida’s car, where he sat on a heated seat until he warmed up again.

When his family took him home, he was given extra food and treats to get his energy back up.

He was wrapped in blankets and loved by Ingrida’s children for the rest of the evening.

Ingrida said: “He’s an amazing dog, he’s so kind natured, loves people and other dogs - but he can be very childlike and stubborn.

“It’s so easy to get distracted, I don't believe dogs should be on a lead all the time as they need a bit of freedom so they can be in their natural state.

“But you’ve got to know your dog and be careful - he will be on a lead more now, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“He’s my responsibility and as the owner, I am responsible for his happiness and also in control of his safety, I know he loves exploring but it’s important to think twice and put them on a lead before they get into trouble.

“I’ve had so much support from everybody, luckily he was saved and I hope other people can learn from this scenario.”