Dramatic pictures show a hero risking his life to save a “drowning” sheep that was chased into a river by an out-of-control dog.
The middle-aged man, whose identity is unknown, jumped into the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales before plucking the farm animal from the “freezing cold” water.
Leslie Flower, who snapped the stunning rescue mission, said the sheep had made its way into the “fast-flowing” river as the hound was “barking” and “biting it”.
But just as the defences animal’s head sunk below the water, the fearless man swam across a stretch of rapids and dragged it to safety.
Leslie said he didn’t know the name of the good Samaritan – who wasn’t the dog’s owner – but added that he should be “recognised” for his incredible bravery.
He said: “This chap risked his life to save the sheep and at no point did he think of his own safety. He was so brave and deserves to be recognised for his brave achievement.”
Leslie, from North Wales, said he was staying locally for a few days when he witnessed the incident at Linton Falls, near Grassington, North Yorks., on Saturday (December 3).
He said: “We noticed a dog which had escaped from its owner, chasing a sheep along the river bank.
“The sheep eventually ran into the river with the dog barking and biting it and being so scared it ran towards the fast-flowing part of the river with the dog also following it.
“The rapids immediately took both of them down the river but the sheep was struggling because of its wool being soaked so it couldn’t swim.
“The dog got to the side and ran onto the rocks but the sheep was turned upside down because of the weight of its sodden wool.
“Its head was under water and it was drowning.”
Leslie then said he saw the heroic man jump into the water and pull the sheep to safety.
He went on: “A chap on the bank [not the owner of the dog] had seen this happening and ran into the water to save the sheep.
“He braved the fast-flowing river, wading across the freezing cold water and at one point fell down which could have been disastrous.
“He eventually reached the distressed sheep, which was very close to drowning.
“He turned the sheep over so it could breathe and eventually managed to drag it over to the bank where it started to recover.”
Leslie said a younger person has previously been walking the dog before it slipped its leash and dashed off towards the livestock.
And he hoped that the incident would remind people to keep their dogs under control, especially near farm animals.
