A DOG apparently swept away to its death in a cold, rising river was ‘miraculously’ found alive two days later - surviving on logs floating under a bridge.

Simon Allen, 51, admits he was expecting the worst when endless searches along the banks of the River Kenwater and River Lugg for his beloved springer spaniel Jake appeared to be fruitless.

The 13-year-old former working dog, who is deaf, was swept away when he went into the Kenwater during a walk near The Priory at 4pm last Friday.

Incredibly, after a twoday search along the riverbanks, Jake was found a mile away, perched on a pile of logs under a bridge over the River Lugg.

Mr Allen, who runs Peppercorns restaurant in Leominster with wife Jennifer, said: “My wife was out with our two spaniels, Jake and his brother Wilson, and I was walking the pointer, Oskar.

“She phoned me and said Jake had not come back and I immediately went and waded in to look for him as he was only a short distance from the weir.

“I waded up to my waist, through the weir for about half a mile but Jake was nowhere to be seen.”

The couple had to return to the restaurant to honour bookings but the search continued by torchlight later that evening and next morning.

Posters were put up and social media appeals put out, and on Saturday the couple closed the restaurant to look for their pet.

Together with a friend, they walked a mile along the river bank to the Worcester Road bridge six times but returned disappointed, with heavy rain now setting in.

Next day, Mr Allen resumed his search, walking to the Worcester Road bridge and, as he had done on all the other occasions, scanning under the arch.

“To my utter amazement, Jake was lying on top of the logs floating in the water.

“He was alive, 46 hours after he went in and a mile down river.”

Mr Allen plunged chestdeep into the water, which was full of debris. After the mile-long walk back with the dog around his neck, he reached home and called out to his wife.

“She just collapsed – joy tears, and an unbelievable end to two days of physical and mental stress that will live with us for ever.”

Mr Allen believes his Jake tried to swim back to where he went in the river but became exhausted and floated down to where he was eventually found.

“Our 13-year-old Spaniel was in the river for 46 hours and had not only survived but had done so in true Jake style.

“He had never given up.”

All of the locals in Leominster were so supportive, we were witnessing true community spirit,.

“We just cannot thank them all enough for their support.”