Man Who Tried To Save Dog In Well Gets Trapped Himself
Posted October 9, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A man who risked his own life to save his four legged friend has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. For one thing, he’s still here to talk about the experience. For another, he has his faithful friend right beside him.
David Kerr’s close encounter with the Grim Reaper began Sunday when he was out walking his dog Missy in Newcastle, Ontario. The curious canine somehow wound up falling into a well on an old farm, leaving her owner in quandary about what to do.
Without any real help around and insisting there was no time to call anyone for aid because “the animal was frantic”, Kerr didn’t hesitate, jumping into the pit to rescue his best friend.
“You just go. You don’t have any choice,” he reflects.
At first, it appeared his rescue effort was going to be a success.
“I managed to hoist her up on my shoulder and shove her out,” he recalls.
But then he faced a new problem he hadn’t expected. Even at 6’1″, he couldn’t reach the bottom of the well, and he couldn’t find a way to get out.
For 30 agonizing minutes, Kerr grabbed at a crevice, desperately holding on for dear life as his dog limped around on the ground above.
That’s when a miracle arrived in the form of an off duty police officer and a hero named Gilles St. Laurant.
They managed to just barely grab Kerr’s hand and despite the awkward position and the strain it left on both men, they didn’t let go and finally pulled him out of his death trap.
“I’m not big, eh?” St. Laurant admits. “The guy is a tall guy, yeah it’s hard.”
Kerr credits his fitness honed by his years as a gym teacher for allowing him to not reach bottom – wherever that might have been.
“I’m glad it was me and not some youngster,” he agrees,” because a youngster would have died in there.”
As for the men who risked their own necks to save his? Words don’t seem enough.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he emotes. “If they hadn’t been around, I would’ve been done.”
Both Kerr and the dog will be fine, although both suffered leg wounds.
Neither is ever expecting a repeat of their dangerous descent. The well has now been boarded up to make sure there are no more accidents.
