Motorist risked his own life to save runaway Yorkie as it charged down dual carriageway

A motorist risked his own life to save a runaway dog as it charged down a busy dual carriageway.

Chris Bryan’s risky rescue of tiny Yorkie-cross Gizmo was all captured on camera on the dash cam in his car.

Chris, 58, first spotted the escaped pooch on his way to work as a transport supervisor at Royal Stoke University Hospital at around 5.45am on Friday.

Astonishing 2min 40second footage shows seven-year-old Gizmo running alongside Chris as he joined the northbound carriageway of the A500 near Sideway, Stoke-on-Trent

Chris tried repeatedly to get out of his car and catch the crazy canine, but Gizmo continually ran past him as vehicles zoomed past at 70mph, causing several other motorists to stop.

Eventually the adventurous animal – pursued by Chris – exited the carriageway before diving into a bush with a 30ft drop onto the road below where Chris and another driver managed to capture him and carry him to safety.

Chris, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, said: “At first I thought it was a rabbit because it was a dull start to the day. However, I then realised that it was a dog and just thought ‘oh no, I’ve got to save it now’.”

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He said: “He was rushing down the slip-road from the Sideway at quite a speed. I was going slowly behind him, and had my hazard lights on to slow people down.

“I was trying to get in front of him, so that I could get out of my car and catch him. But every time I did that he would just run past me, he was very hard to catch. One time when I was out of the car he darted onto the right-hand lanes.”

Chris added: “I was desperately trying to alert drivers to what was going on. Everyone had to slow right down, out of fear of running him over.

“In the end he exited the motorway towards a roundabout. He leapt over a barrier and into some bushes, but was obviously unaware that there was a 30ft drop down to the dual carriage nearby.

“I honestly thought he was done for. But myself and the fella in front – who got a bite for his troubles – were able to catch him together. When I got a hold of him he was shaking, he was clearly terrified.”

Chris took Gizmo to work before later driving him to Hope Veterinary Surgery in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, where they found a microchip and reunited Gizmo with his owner.