Jim Buttress, 76, became stuck in the River Char near Seadown Holiday Park in Charmouth.
The pensioner from Basingstoke was swept into the deep, cold and fast-flowing river while throwing a frisbee for his dog.
Jim is a regular at Seadown Holiday Park in Charmouth and he was staying there in September with his wife Jennie and dog Jack when the dramatic incident happened.
Peter Weait, 80, from Reading, was among a group nearby who went to Jim’s rescue.
He told the Bridport News, a sister title of the Basingstoke Gazette, about the ordeal.
He said: “This dog kept worrying us and wandering around. Eventually, one of the women that I was with managed to get hold of it by luring it in with a biscuit.
“She tried to take it round the caravan site to see who’s it was, but the dog kept pulling her across the fields, so she followed and then all of a sudden she started shouting for help.”
Amazingly, the dog had led the woman to Jim, who had become stuck after falling down a bank and into the river.
The River Char meanders along the edge of the caravan park and is a popular location amongst walkers and those trying their hand at a spot of fishing.
Jim has now thanked those who came to his rescue.
He said: “I threw Jack’s frisbee umpteen times, but this time it caught the branches of a tree. I couldn’t reach it.
“I tried to get back up the bank and the ground disappeared from beneath me, I was swept into the river – it was ever so deep.”
While Jim was stuck in the river, Jack ran off towards a group of holidaymakers to try and get their attention and led a woman to the river where his owner was trapped.
He swam to the side of the river where he was able to grab hold of something for stability.
He said: “It was so cold, I was numb, and all of the rocks and mud were coming down.
“I just shouted ‘help, help,’ I don’t know how long I was in there for – maybe 15 or 20 minutes. There was a strong current.
“All of a sudden, this guy came along with a ladder and lowered it to me. He jumped in and helped me, but I was just frozen, I didn’t know where my legs were.
“It was such a relief to be out.”
Jim and Jack (Image: Jim Buttress)
Once Jim was rescued from the river and had warmed up, his wife told him of Jack’s incredible actions.
“I was so proud of him [Jack] and Jennie, my wife could not believe it. I am very thankful – he is one in a million and so intelligent,” he said.
Seadown Holiday Park (Image: NQ)
Jim said he and Jack are rarely parted – the loyal hound loves riding around on his owner’s mobility scooter, which is covered in astroturf to prevent the dog from slipping off.