TYSON the Rottweiller's bravery sank without trace when he came face to face with a flock of . . . bad tempered ducks.
The 10-stone gentle giant had to be rescued from the middle of Doffcocker Lodge when the flotilla of irate mallards took a dislike to him.
Hero passer-by Vinnie Green risked his life by diving into the water to save the drowning dog.
The dramatic rescue started when owner Jayne Cumisky, 25, of Chorley Old Road took Tyson to Doffcocker for his nightly walk.
"He was swimming in the water when the ducks ganged up on him," she explained.
"He's a real big softie and they just surrounded him and would not let him out of the water. He got very tired and started sinking".
In an amazing coincidence, a volunteer for a dog rescue organisation saw the drama from the bank while walking his own pet and plunged fully clothed into the water.
Father-of-two Vinnie Green managed to drag Tyson to an island in the middle of the lodge and revive him.
"Then the poor chap had to get him back," said Jayne. "Tyson was too tired to swim."
Vinnie found a rope on the island and tied it to Tyson's collar so he could pull the exhausted dog behind him while swimming back to the shore one-handed.
The ducks surrounded the pair and swam back with them but held off their attack.
Shop worker Jayne said: "They were well hard those ducks - Tyson was very lucky Vinnie was there to save him.
"He seems to have recovered but his reputation is in tatters. I have had to buy him a pair of water wings in case he decides to go swimming again."
A MAN trying to escape an attack from three bull terriers jumped into a reservoir, injuring his back.
The 51-year-old, from Darwen, had been cycling near Green Water Reservoir, Stones Bank Road, near Belmont, before going for a swim.
As he got out of the water at around 3pm he was chased and attacked by three bull terriers, one of which bit him on the wrist.
The man jumped back into the water to escape the dogs, injuring his back.
Walkers in the area alerted the police and ambulance service, but the dogs and their owners had left the scene when police arrived.
A spokesman for Darwen police said: "There were two men seen with these dogs who did not stop or apologise to the man involved. We are hoping to trace them and speak to them."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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