A UNIVERSITY student from Wirral saved the day when he pulled a dog to safety after it fell into a canal.

Ben Camphour from Heswall and his flatmate Jack Spencer Furmston from Chester, both 20, had been walking along Ancoats Canal in Manchester after visiting a coffee shop.

The university students spotted a distressed dog owner, Batu Akyol, who was frantically holding onto his dog’s lead.

Wirral Globe: Ben Camphour and his flat mate Jack Spencer Furmston Ben Camphour and his flat mate Jack Spencer Furmston (Image: Ben Camphour)

Ben told the Globe: “I could see someone walking something in the canal. I’ve seen enough crazy stuff in Manchester to know it could have been someone walking like a duck or something strange on a lead.

“But when I checked it out and I saw it was a dog I knew I had to help.”

Initially, Ben tried to climb down into the canal but was unable to reach the dog.

Luckily, onlookers had also spotted the situation and joined Jack and Ben in their rescue mission.

Wirral Globe: Ben was hung upside down to try and rescue the dog who had fell into a canal in ManchesterBen was hung upside down to try and rescue the dog who had fell into a canal in Manchester (Image: Twitter)

Ben said: “I took off my coat and hoodie and we came up with a plan to hang me upside down and lower me into the canal so I could grab the dog. We needed enough people to hold me and bring me back up again.”

 

Ben then managed to grab the dog by its collar and pull him up to safety.

Ben said: “I was shocked when I first saw the dog slowly sinking into the mud. I have a dog myself so I knew I needed to help. I couldn’t leave him I just knew I had to help this guy.

Wirral Globe: Ben managed to grab the dog by its collar and pull him up to safetyBen managed to grab the dog by its collar and pull him up to safety (Image: Twitter)

"All that mattered was how we were getting that dog out. The owner was super grateful and happy that we managed to help."

Since the incident, video footage from a member of the public who caught the heroic act has gone viral on social media racking up thousands of views and shares.

Ben said: “It’s everywhere. I didn’t expect it to blow up on social media as it has.

“As a young lad, we get a lot of stick for getting in trouble so it’s good to show people we aren’t all like that.”