Bedford station and neighbouring rail depot staff carried out a dramatic rescue of a Labrador which had been missing for a number of days.
George the Labrador dog, is from the Kempston area of Bedford and had escaped from home after a seizure which had left him disorientated.
Hundreds of people in the town had been out and about right around the clock trying to find George. A post was added to the popular Facebook page ‘We Are Bedford' which has 39,000 members and gave support to the ongoing search effort as people added updates of possible sightings.
Thursday evening at approximately 5pm, George was seen on the track next to the fast line at Bedford station.
Bernie Lee, Thameslink station manager at Bedford, said:
“The two owners were on the platforms either side, one of them on his knees, understandably hysterical and calling to the dog. My heart was in my mouth. I was worried not only for the dog but terrified the owners would come onto the track too and put their lives at risk.
“For the safety of everyone, I took an instant decision to have the power turned off. As that was happening, an East Midlands Train came through at 90mph. George was spooked as the train went past him and ran backwards across the neighbouring slow lines and off towards the sidings.
“Lots of people were helping from the station and nearby depot, communicating on the radio and one of our drivers, Kerry Eagle, and one of our shunter drivers, Chris Williams, were helping keep track of him.
“Terry Prestedge, who is a mobile operations manager with Network Rail, was in the nearby depot and heard the commotion on the staff radio. He came out and joined in, eventually getting hold of George, using his own trousers belt as a lead to take him to safety and reunite him with his overjoyed owners.”
Bernie added:
“Everyone here at Thameslink is so delighted and relieved that George is safe and sound. First finding him following the appeal on Facebook and then rescuing him from the danger of the tracks with our colleague at Network Rail was a real community effort.”
Bernie has previously been commended for saving the life of a young person trying to take his life at another Thameslink line station.
Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said:
“Bernie's quick thinking and the coordinated efforts of everyone at Bedford station and the neighbouring train depot averted what could very easily have been a tragic situation for both the dog and his owners.
“We often say that our rail service is at the heart of the communities we serve. I think that what Bernie and her team at Bedford station did with the drivers and Network Rail engineer at the neighbouring depot shows just how true this is.”
Owner Vicky Wooding said:
“It's been an absolute horrific couple of days. The vets said it was a miracle, they don't know how he's alive with such minimal injuries.
“Our dog is our life, he's our child. Honestly, the staff at Bedford station were so helpful and without them, we wouldn't have George back. They've been fantastic.”
