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This faithful dog refused to leave her owner's side after he died during their walk

A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.
A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.

A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.

David Sparkes, 65, died after a fatal fall during his daily walk with 11-year-old Mistle.

But the loyal springer spaniel refused to leave his side, lying with his body for five hours until he was found by police.

A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.
Accident – David Sparkes fell as he crossed a stile on the walk he has done every day for 20 years (Pictures: SWNS)

Retired engineer Mr Sparkes was reported missing after he didn’t return from his evening walk with Mistle along the River Severn at Holt Fleet, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, on September 14.

Police found his body – with Mistle by his side – at Worcs 1am the following morning.

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He had slipped and fallen while crossing a stile and broken three ribs during the riverside walk he had been doing for over 20 years.

His daughter Sally Brown, 37, from Droitwich, said Mistle’s refusal to leave her owner’s side summed up their close relationship.

She said: “Mistle stayed with him until the very end. She lay with him until we found him. She didn’t move from his side even when the police found him in the field.”

A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.
Loyal – Mistle refused to leave her owner’s side, staying with him for five hours

“It is a bit of comfort when nobody was with my dad. At least the dog was with him,” she added.

“It doesn’t surprise me though really. They were inseparable and had a very special bond. It was like she was guarding the spot, she just refused to leave him there and sat with him the whole time.

“We are broken-hearted but so proud of Mistle.”

Mistle was poorly the following day because she missed her owner so much, and still looks for him now, she said.

A faithful dog lay by her owner’s body for five hours, refusing to leave, after he died during their evening walk.
Search – Mr Sparkes’ wife Hazel and daughter Sally searched for him after he didn’t come home

Father of two Mr Sparkes and his wife Hazel bought Mistle when she was a 10 week-old puppy.

She said her husband used to go for seven-mile walks, so she didn’t become concerned until 9pm – four hours after he had left – and called police and started searching for him herself.

“Police eventually found him and there was Mistle, faithfully by his side.

“He was probably about an hour from home so we think she was sitting with him for about five hours.

“The next day, as I sat on our back porch, she just lay at the top of the garden and just looked in shock. She wasn’t right for about four days.”

An inquest held at Worcestershire Coroner’s Court previously found Mr Sparkes died as a result of an accident.