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THE family of a dog rescued from a frozen lake in a city park today came forward to thank the man who saved their beloved pet.

Tilly, a two-year-old Jack Russell cross, bounded on to the ice after a football during an afternoon out at Greenbank Park in Mossley Hill.

But the thin sheet covering the freezing waters cracked, and the little dog plunged into the icy lake as owner Deborah Owers, husband Michel Nodet, son Sam, 14 and twins Julien and Malca, eight, looked on.

Dr Owers, a GP, said the family were extremely distressed as they watched their pet struggle in the bitterly cold afternoon, before a calm stranger waded in and lifted her to safety.

Dr Owers said: “We were absolutely hysterical, I was going to go in myself and had my shoes off, but then a woman from the crowd that had gathered told me not to. We were just crying as we watched Tilly, who we’ve only had since November, struggle and pant as she tried to get out, she was in there a good five or 10 minutes.

“As she got her paws out they just slid back down the ice again and that was when I thought we’d lose her.”

A crowd gathered in the park, but it was a tall, dark-haired Scottish man with a beard walking with his girlfriend who saved the day, and Tilly, who the family found at a rescue centre. The 49-year-old doctor said: “This man just came over and calmly took control of the situation. He pulled his shoes off, waded in, pulled her out and handed her back.

“He must have known how deep it was, the water came up to his waist and he was about 6ft 2ins tall.

“He was so magnanimous afterwards too – I spoke about giving him a reward, but he just said no it’s fine and went. We’re all so grateful, he is our hero for saving Tilly.”

The family, who live in Prenton, Wirral, were walking with Dr Owers’ cousin who lives nearby, where Tilly was swiftly taken following her rescue from the pond. She said: “I’m glad to say now she’s made a full recovery, but I still feel sick when I think about what happened on Sunday afternoon.”

Are you the mystery dog rescuer, or do you know who is? Call ECHO reporter John Sutton on 0151 472 2491 or email john.sutton@liverpool.com

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