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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Delay in blind, deaf dog search | Delay in blind, deaf dog search |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Rescuers have delayed restarting their search for a deaf and blind dog trapped down a deep hole in old mineworkings near Pontypool, Torfaen. | Rescuers have delayed restarting their search for a deaf and blind dog trapped down a deep hole in old mineworkings near Pontypool, Torfaen. |
| Sprogget, an 18-year-old Jack Russell cross, spent a second night underground on a hillside. | Sprogget, an 18-year-old Jack Russell cross, spent a second night underground on a hillside. |
| Rescue teams arrived to resume digging by hand, but could not hear Sprogget under the surface as they had before. | Rescue teams arrived to resume digging by hand, but could not hear Sprogget under the surface as they had before. |
| They are waiting for a robot camera to arrive at the site on British Mountain to find out if he is still alive. | They are waiting for a robot camera to arrive at the site on British Mountain to find out if he is still alive. |
| Sprogget vanished down the hole Wednesday lunchtime and the search went on until late on Thursday. | Sprogget vanished down the hole Wednesday lunchtime and the search went on until late on Thursday. |
| An excavator and robot cameras were employed earlier in the day then rescuers used shovels and their hands. | An excavator and robot cameras were employed earlier in the day then rescuers used shovels and their hands. |
| The rescue team has tried to reach Sprogget | The rescue team has tried to reach Sprogget |
| The team of 15, including miners from Black Barn Colliery nearby, drilled and shovelled until 2100 BST on Thursday, using a generator and mining lamps to light the scene. | The team of 15, including miners from Black Barn Colliery nearby, drilled and shovelled until 2100 BST on Thursday, using a generator and mining lamps to light the scene. |
| They could hear the dog whimpering around three to four metres underground, and before they left for the night they dropped chocolate bars and crisps down the fissure to try to sustain Sprogget through his second night underground. | They could hear the dog whimpering around three to four metres underground, and before they left for the night they dropped chocolate bars and crisps down the fissure to try to sustain Sprogget through his second night underground. |
| But on Friday morning there was no sound of the dog. | But on Friday morning there was no sound of the dog. |
| Mike Doyle from the Coal Authority, which has been overseeing the rescue operation, said: "There's little point in starting digging at the moment because either obviously he's no longer with us or he may have moved into another part of the fissure. | Mike Doyle from the Coal Authority, which has been overseeing the rescue operation, said: "There's little point in starting digging at the moment because either obviously he's no longer with us or he may have moved into another part of the fissure. |
| "The last hope we've got is the CCTV camera which will be on site about half past nine we'll have a good look round and hopefully we'll get a sight of him then." | "The last hope we've got is the CCTV camera which will be on site about half past nine we'll have a good look round and hopefully we'll get a sight of him then." |
| It's the principle of the thing really¿we've all got dogs and dogs mean an awful lot to us Gareth Thomas, one of the rescuers | It's the principle of the thing really¿we've all got dogs and dogs mean an awful lot to us Gareth Thomas, one of the rescuers |
| It is thought the hole, which Sprogget has fallen into, opened up on top of the old workings from the former Six Bells colliery nearby. | It is thought the hole, which Sprogget has fallen into, opened up on top of the old workings from the former Six Bells colliery nearby. |
| Rescuers spent much of Thursday trying to reach the dog in an operation which has estimated to have cost £1,000. | Rescuers spent much of Thursday trying to reach the dog in an operation which has estimated to have cost £1,000. |
| They used an excavator to dig between two and three metres below the surface but after a time could no longer use the machine because they were near Sprogget. Robot cameras were also employed in the search. | They used an excavator to dig between two and three metres below the surface but after a time could no longer use the machine because they were near Sprogget. Robot cameras were also employed in the search. |
| Men from the Black Barn colliery nearby have been taking part in the search. | Men from the Black Barn colliery nearby have been taking part in the search. |
| Leader Gareth Thomas said: "It's the principle of the thing really, we've all got dogs and dogs mean an awful lot to us. We would have loved to have rescued the dog last night. | |
| "The boys have been up at 4.30 yesterday morning and they were up till nine last night. | "The boys have been up at 4.30 yesterday morning and they were up till nine last night. |
| Sprogget's owner, New Zealander David Sampford, said he was "very disappointed" there was no sign of his pet. | Sprogget's owner, New Zealander David Sampford, said he was "very disappointed" there was no sign of his pet. |
| "Two nights is quite a lot isn't it for an 18-year-old dog?," he said. | "Two nights is quite a lot isn't it for an 18-year-old dog?," he said. |
| "He might have moved on or he might have passed away." | "He might have moved on or he might have passed away." |