A new girlfriend, Krins and I had been seeing each other for just a few weeks when I suggested that she joined me for a romantic stroll through a local woodland with the dogs.

The rain had been enough to make Noah's storm look like a puddle, this being the first day for quite some time without a never ending stream of water falling from the sky. At the bottom of the wooded valley is a small river meandering through steep banks gorged into the limestone. The river becomes swollen very quickly as any rain water falling on the nearby moor runs off into the steep drop of the tight banked river, changing it from a babbling brook into a raging torrent in spate.

Arm in arm, we walked through the puddle filled valley admiring the trees coming into bud and the purple hew caused by carpets of bluebells starting to break through the rich soil. Charlie and Digit were left to run infront of us, following their noses and exploring the slightest scent in case it would lead them to some gamey prize. Each time one of the dogs veered a little to close to the fast moving water a quick blast of the whistle would steer them out of harms way and back into the jungle of straight hazel shafts.

I heard it before I saw it; it was the splashing sound of Charlie hitting the water as she leapt from the bank in pursuit of some smell or other. Bugger, this could mean trouble.

At full gallop I sprinted ahead of Krins and rounded the bend in the river to see Charlie desperately trying to stay afloat and make it to the bank.

The bank on the other side of the river, only fifteen feet or so across the surface, was a little more shallow and would make a much easier route for Charlie to escape. Charlie being a typical "Daddy's girl" didn't think to try a different route despite my desperate gestures and vociferous instructions; she just kept on trying to get to me by the shortest distance possible, and she was failing badly.

Looking for inspiration, I noticed that a limb of a huge beech tree spanned the expanse of water, giving me a possible route to the other side of the river from where I could easily help Charlie out.

"Hold Digit, tightly" I barked (pardon the pun) as I reached up to grasp the thick branch, beginning the monkey like traverse with my feet dangling just a few inches above the surface of the water. I didn't get far.

Charlie had seen me and was tracking my progress as best as she could, following my feet across the river towards the opposite bank. Just as I reached the mid-way point we heard a loud crack. Krins screamed as the branch gave way under the load (sounds better than writing "under my weight"), depositing me fully clothed and with wellies on into ten feet of fast moving and very cold water.

As soon as I resurfaced I made a grab for Charlie, holding her tight whilst we drifted downstream. Karen screamed again; I turned my head towards her just in time to see Digit speeding past me in the current. Luckily for him spaniels have long ears; I just about managed to grab one and pull him to me before he disappeared out of reach.

So there we were; me almost totally submerged as I struggled to stay afloat with the weight of all of my clothes, my wellies, and the two dogs, whilst Krins was on the bank with her head in her hands thinking that I was a total mad man.

The current took us very quickly seventy yards or so downstream where I managed to steer towards a shallow bank and climb out. Krins just stood staring at me in disbelief as I appeared before her looking like a nearly drowned rat.

One or two very heavy drops of rain heralded the start of another imminent down pour. I looked up at the clouds for a brief moment, then looked back into her steely blue eyes and said "We'd better head back to the car before we get wet". With a smile, she took me by the hand and lead me towards the waiting car.

Please note: dogs are exceptional swimmers, and will usually escape waters far beyond the capability of any human. Entering any body of water to rescue a dog should be deemed as sheer stupidity and irresponsible, traits that I often demonstrate well. DON'T DO IT!