Dog Found Alive In Clacton Gas Blast Rubble

A pet dog whose owners thought had died in a house explosion on Wednesday has been found alive among the rubble.

Fire rescue labrador Reqs discovered four-year-old collie Carryad in the wreckage caused by the blast in Clacton, Essex.

Reqs sniffed out his fellow canine after being alerted to a "whimpering noise" during an inspection of the site.

Investigators cleared some of the debris and Carryad walked out of the rubble having escaped with only a small cut to her leg.

Reqs's handler Nikki Harvey, from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We were carrying out an inspection of the site when we heard a whimpering noise.

"Reqs was immediately alerted and bolted over to where the noise was coming.

"As we cleared the debris, out popped her head. She was at the bottom of the garden and had been sheltered by trees and other debris.

"She was frightened and quite scared so she was coaxed out with some dog food."

Vets confirmed Carryad, who is being reunited with her owners, had not suffered any serious injuries.

Two-year-old Reqs has been working with Hertfordshire Fire Service for the past year.

Pictures of Carryad shortly after she was rescued were posted to Reqs's Twitter account which has attracted nearly 2,000 followers.

Firefighters believe a domestic gas fault is likely to have caused the explosion which destroyed two houses and injured 10 people.

One semi-detached house was destroyed and the second floor of a neighbouring property was left hanging precariously following the blast. A third property was also wrecked.

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