Pet collie feared dead after explosion found alive by Reqs the Fire Dog

A pet dog feared to have been killed in a house explosion  (photo gallery) two days ago has been found alive by a fire rescue labrador. Four-year-old Collie Carryad was discovered in the rubble of the explosion site in Clacton, Essex. She was found by fire investigation dog Reqs who was alerted to a "whimpering noise" during an inspection of the site.



After investigators cleared some of the debris, Carryad walked out of the rubble having escaped with only a small cut to her leg. Reqs's handler Nikki Harvey, from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We were carrying out an inspection of the site when we heard a whimpering noise. "Reqs was immediately alerted and bolted over to where the noise was coming. As we cleared the debris, out popped her head.



"She was frightened and quite scared so she was coaxed out with some dog food." Carryad, who is being reunited with her owners, was taken to a vet's surgery where it was confirmed she had not suffered any serious injuries. Two-year-old black labrador Reqs has been working with Hertfordshire Fire Service for the past year.



Firefighters believe a domestic gas fault is likely to have caused the explosion on Wednesday which destroyed two houses and injured 10 people. One semi-detached house was razed to the ground and the second floor of a neighbouring property was left hanging precariously following the blast in Clacton. A third property was also wrecked. One man, believed to be in his 70s, is in a life-threatening condition after the blast in Cloes Lane at around 8.30am. A woman, thought to be in her 50s, was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, with severe burns.