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Harrogate dog's lucky escape after 10ft fall into river

Monday, 18 August 2025 12:35

6-year-old Monty fell 10ft whilst on a walk in the Yorkshire Dales. (Image: Swift Referrals)

A Harrogate dog has made a remarkable recovery after plunging 10ft into a river in the Yorkshire Dales.

Six-year-old Labradoodle Monty fractured his spine after leaping over a wall at the viewing platform at Linton Falls in Grassington.

He was on a walk with his owner, Christine Orr from Harrogate, when he crashed into rocks and fell into the water.

Christine waded in to reach him, and with help from her partner Mark and onlookers, managed to get him to safety.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service then assisted in transporting him carefully to the couple’s car.

Christine said:

"Monty just walks beside us and never jumps anything, so he was off the lead. I saw him smash into the rock face and then it was a sheer drop into the water.

"I thought he was dead, and my scream was so loud a lady in a nearby house came out to see what was going on."

Monty was first assessed at a veterinary practice in Skipton before being transferred to a Swift Referrals - a specialist centre in Wetherby.

Here he underwent two major operations to repair his spine and a ruptured tendon in his pelvis.

After 10 days of treatment, Monty was able to return home with regular physio and hydrotherapy to support his recovery.

Christine said:

“It was such a soul destroying thing to go through and I’ve never cried so much over an animal.

“We’re so grateful for the amazing work Swift Referrals did.

“He’s pretty much fully back to his usual crazy self, although we make sure to keep him on the lead now.”

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