Feeling of déjà vu for police officer who rescued dog in rowing boat for second time in 18 months

A police officer from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands could be forgiven for having a feeling of déjà vu. For the second time in 18 months he found himself jumping into a rowing boat to capture a fleeing felon with four legs, a wet nose and a wagging tail. On a warm afternoon the water at the city’s West Park proved far too tempting for Lexi the dog who decided to go for swim.



But the terriers’ doggy-paddling failed her and she soon got into difficulties. The dog’s plight had been witnessed by a visitor to the park who swam out to help the damsel in distress. But his brave actions left the duo stranded on the boating lakes’ island. So PC Ben Bates and PC Adrian Chandler commandeered a nearby boat to paddle out to pair.

Remarkably it was a similar tale back in October 2013 when PC Bates was called upon to do exactly the same thing, at the same park with the same dog. On that occasion he managed to coax Lexi into a boat before she jumped out and decided to give swimming another try, prompting PC Bates to take the plunge himself.



Thankfully this time Lexi remained on-board for the duration of the journey and she was soon back on the mainland with the man who had initially swum out to rescue her. "They say dogs are man’s best friend - and in the last year or so myself and Lexi have become close - too close for my liking. Thankfully for her on both occasions I have been patrolling nearby and been able to work with park rangers to rescue her," said PC Bates.