Spaniel given bravery award after falling 60ft

A cocker spaniel has been named the UK's bravest pet after surviving a 60ft fall down a dam.

Two-year-old Darcy was walking with her owners in July when she jumped a five-foot wall and plunged down the concrete slipway.

See also: Dog attacked by horse 'lucky to survive'

See also: RSPCA rescues dog with hair so matted he couldn't see

The two-year-old suffered horrific injuries but – to the amazement of Wendy and Gordon Lyon, from Kellas, near Dundee – went on to make a full recovery.

And she has beaten five other amazing animals to land vet charity PDSA's Pet Survivor Award.

Wendy told how the drama unfolded as she and Gordon took Darcy for a stroll at Glascarnoch Dam in Wester Ross.

She said: "We've walked there many times and she's never done anything like that before."We have no idea why she decided to jump. We expected the worst and ran to look over the wall.

"Incredibly, she survived the fall and was looking up at us.

"We were distraught as we couldn't reach her.

"It took a while for the fire brigade to arrive as we were in the middle of nowhere. When the fireman brought her up, hypothermia was setting in and she was slipping in and out of consciousness but she still managed to nuzzle his cheek."

Despite having internal bleeding, a damaged spleen, air leaking into her chest cavity, a damaged liver, a fractured pelvis and two broken legs, Darcy pulled through.

Vet Hal Drummond, who operated on her in Dingwall, said: "I was uncertain she would survive and even then it wasn't guaranteed that she would ever walk again.

"To see her running around now is nothing short of miraculous.

"She is a very brave, sweet-natured dog, and everyone who has helped in her recovery is delighted she's won this award."