Dog survives 50ft fall from Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor

Oban is recovering after surviving a 50ft fall off a dam wall

A dog had an "incredibly lucky" escape after tumbling 50ft (15.24m) off a dam wall in Devon.

Oban, a 20-month-old black Labrador, ran off from his owners during a Boxing Day walk in woodland near the Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor.

In a panic, he jumped off the dam in an attempt to find them on a walking route below.

Oban suffered a broken leg and puncture wounds but managed to survive the steep drop.

Mark Harding, one of Oban's owners, said he was elated to find him alive.

He said the dog went missing about 13:00 GMT as his family went for a walk near the dam.

The dog fell off Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor after running away from his owners

"Oban was doing what he normally does and ran ahead a little bit - he obviously lost us, panicked and tried to find his way back on the route he came from," he said.

"I understand he ran across the dam, some people tried to catch him because they could see he was beside himself.

"He decided the best way to get back to where he'd come from was to jump onto the parapet of the dam itself and leap 50 feet down to ground level.

"The drop is horrendous."

Oban was spotted in the woods by a member of the public but he again ran off.

He was eventually found by members of the Tavistock branch of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team in dark and wet conditions four hours after he went missing.

Catherine Jones, a vet from the rescue organisation, said volunteers surrounded the dog to stop him running off again.

Oban's owners then made their way to him so he could be reunited with them.

A vet said Oban was lucky to survive the fall

Ms Jones said: "It's amazing he didn't have more serious injuries like a ruptured diaphragm or something like that given the height he had fallen.

"He's incredibly lucky."

Oban is expected to spend 12 months in recovery after surgery on his leg.

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