South Yorkshire Times February 15, 1969

Mexbro’ Man Defies Creaking Ice to Save Family Pet

A 26-Year-Old Mexborough man braved creaking ice on an Old Denaby pond on Sunday to rescue a four-year-old springer spaniel which was struggling for its life in freezing water. Mr. John Crossland a roof tiler, of 20, Adwick Road, Mexborough, had taken the family pet Bumble, owned by his mother-in-law Mrs. Clara Lawton, for a walk from Mexborough to Old Denaby.

Said Mr. Crossland: “I had let him off the lead at the Ferryboat Inn and when we got to the Y.E.B. pond at Old Denaby he galloped straight on to the ice. I shouted for him to come back but he fell into the water in the middle.

“I knew the ice would not bear my weight so I got a notice board, knelt on it and propelled myself across the ice with my arms. However, I could only get within about 12 feet of the dog”

Mr Crossland continued: “In the meantime a few people had collected at the scene and a woman sent a small boy to a house for a rope

“As the dog was trying to get out the ice was breaking and I knew I daren’t go within 12 feet of him, so I made a noose In the rope and tried to lasso him — but it didn’t work.”

Rope in Teeth

“However, after about half a dozen tries the dog managed to grip the rope with his teeth and I pulled him out”

Mr. Crossland’s rescue attempt took about 20 minutes—but his persistence saved the life of the dog.

“It would have drowned,” he said. “There was no chance to get it out other than by smashing the ice.”

And Bumble was at home this week — none the worse for his escapade.