Wolverhampton rescue dog lost for 10 days in Snowdonia Mountains
A dog from Wolverhampton survived for 10 days on his own in the Snowdonia Mountains after helping rescue his owner after he fell 600ft and badly injured himself.
Sutty the spaniel scampered away when an RAF helicopter approached to land as part of an attempt to rescue 66-year-old Peter Mincher.
Despite attempts to find the pooch, mountain rescuer teams and Mr Mincher's family struggled to locate him among the hilly terrain.
But 10 days after the dog went missing, he was discovered just yards from the rescue point by walkers Rob Shepherd and girlfriend Sian Williams.
Mr Mincher's daughter, Adele, said Sutty had saved her father's life.
The 39-year-old Wolverhampton City Council catering assistant explained: "After the fall, Sutty barked and got the attention of other walkers and it was they who called for help.
"He saved dad's life but was scared when the helicopter came in so ran off.
"They sent rescue teams out looking for him but he couldn't be found and we put posters up all around the area hoping people would keep an eye out for him.
"We were heading back down there 10 days later and we got a call saying two walkers had found Sutty and that they had abseiled him off the cliff."
Mr Mincher, a caretaker at Oak Meadow School and St Alban's School in Wolverhampton has a caravan in Snowdon and regularly visits the area with Sutty to enjoy walks with his dog.
But on May 29 Mr Mincher, of Nock Road, Wednesfield, was walking in an area that he was unfamiliar with.
He fell 600ft, breaking 12 ribs, badly bruised lungs and suffering a fractured pelvis. He was flown to Bangor Hospital by the RAF, later transferred to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust in Stoke and then back to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, where he was today still being treated.
Miss Mincher, who travelled to Wales with her partner 41-year-old Jamie Williams to collect Sutty, said her father had been asking about the whereabouts of the 14-year-old cross breed King Charles-type spaniel.
She added: "Being reunited with Sutty was amazing. I just dropped to my knees and he was licking my face. Dad has had him since he was a puppy. He was asking about the dog but we decided not to tell him he was missing at first. Now he's been found, he knows that Sutty spent 10 days out there on his own. Sutty is now settled at home and is fine. He looks around the house for dad."
