Thirsk man hit by falling tree branch says dog saved his life

A antheral who was trapped nether a fallen histrion subdivision has said his beingness was saved by his dog.

Malcolm Myers, from Thirsk, was walking his rescue canine Buddy connected a footpath erstwhile helium heard a large crack.

A subdivision from a equine chestnut histrion deed him connected the backmost and head, burying him - but helium said Buddy dug distant the foliage to assistance escaped him.

North Yorkshire Council said it had contacted the landowner and had launched an investigation.

Mr Myers, 63, was walking connected a way adjacent Thirsk and Sowerby Institute connected 7 June astatine astir 13:45 BST erstwhile helium said helium heard a dependable similar a "clap of thunder".

"I was buried with a histrion that had fallen connected apical of me, I was trapped, I couldn't move," helium said.

"There was a subdivision astir my leg. It was sheer darkness, I couldn't spot anything. I was truly fearful for my beingness astatine this point."

He said helium could perceive radical screaming, but his terrier-chihuahua transverse Buddy "frantically started digging" astatine the foliage.

"I retrieve saying to him, 'keep digging Bud'. I enactment my manus retired to his paw and past helium gave maine the spot to combat to get out."

Mr Myers said helium suffered a trauma wounded and concussion arsenic a effect of being deed by the fallen branch, leaving him "mentally and physically wholly wrecked".

"All I tin accidental is that he's my small hero, without Buddy by my broadside I would person died."

He is present calling for the assembly to bash much to inspect older trees that could beryllium astatine hazard of falling connected passers-by.

The tree, which is connected backstage property, has a histrion extortion bid connected it.

North Yorkshire Council's interim caput of road operations, Jayne Charlton, said the authorization was investigating the situation."A subordinate of the nationalist alerted america to the incident, which we responded to immediately, closing the footpath portion the debris was cleared," she said."We received a further study that a antheral walking his canine was deed connected the backmost by a ample branch, portion a smaller 1 struck him connected the head."We person made interaction with the landowner to pass them of their responsibilities with respect to the tree, which is taxable to a histrion preservation order."