No thanks for Saving Tess

7:20 PM Thu 15 Oct 2009 GMT

'Boy am I glad to be in this lifeboat' .

Every sailor in the UK knows that the Royal National Lifesaving Institution (RNLI) lifeboat crews are trained for all sorts of rescues, but getting bitten by a disoriented dog is probably not part of the training package.

This is what happened to a couple of Gravesend lifeboat crew this week when they tried to rescue a Canvey dog who had become disorientated while swimming out in the Thames estuary.

The German Shepherd cross, called Tess, was saved by the pair, who had to be taken to hospital after being bitten by the frantic dog.

Ian Smith and Chris Cheeseman, from Gravesend RNLI lifeboat station, underwent medical checks and were prescribed antibiotics on Thursday.

Mr Smith, who required a bandage on his forearm due to the depth of the puncture wound, said: "Tess was confused and was approximately half a mile to the east of the Chapman Buoy, a good half mile offshore.

'She was rapidly tiring and would have succumbed imminently had it not been for the timely intervention of the lifeboat."

Tess's owner had taken her for a walk along the Canvey foreshore when she decided to go for a swim.

Ian Smith after the dog rescue - with bandage - .. .

While Chris Cheeseman was trying to get a lead - made from a yacht harness - around the dog's neck, she bit him.

A second attempt saw the terrified pet bite through Mr Smith's dry suit before injuring his left forearm.

However, the rescue was a success and the bedraggled and disturbed pet returned to his grateful owner.

It's all in the day's duties for the RNLI.

by Matthew Stanton, Yellowad/Sail-World