A WOMAN said she is 'incredibly grateful' after her granddaughter helped save her life - following a fall into a river in which she was 'holding on for dear life' for half an hour.

Sharon Plowman, 56, was out on a walk with her two dogs and two of her granddaughters.

Miss Plowman suffers from what she describes as "a list of complex medical conditions" including Fibromyalgia and bad arthritis.

She was looking after granddaughters Ellie Reid, 12, and Alice Reid, 8, after Ellie had suggested they went for a walk with the two dogs, Poppy the Labrador and Lily the Staffordshire bull terrier.

Lily the Staffordshire bull terrier and Poppy the LabradorLily the Staffordshire bull terrier and Poppy the Labrador (Image: Sharon Plowman)

However, shortly afterwards, Miss Plowman fell into a river, unable to escape after trying to rescue her dog Lily.

Miss Plowman said: "I was walking near Spetisbury.

"One of my dogs went into the river, I tried to grab her collar and I lost balance and ended up falling in myself.

"Ellie took my phone and called the emergency services.

"By then I was suffering from hyperthermia.

"Ellie stayed on the phone to the emergency services whilst Alice ran off to find the fire brigade.

"We were in the middle of nowhere so it was hard for them to find us.

"They were trying their best to find us but it was hard to see where we were.

"They had to get an emergency 4x4 vehicle to come and rescue us.

The emergency services in SpetisburyThe emergency services in Spetisbury (Image: Sharon Plowman)

"It was very scary, I was in the water for half an hour.

"I was holding on for dear life, trying not to get swept away by the river.

"The firefighters even took Ellie's details to commend her for saving my life."

The incident took place on Monday, August 5 and this wasn't the first time that Miss Plowman's life has been saved by Ellie.

Earlier this year, she reacted quickly to call the ambulance when her grandmother suffered an asthma attack.

Miss Plowman added: "This is the second time she has saved my life, she also saved my life earlier in January.

"I had an asthma attack and an allergic reaction in my lungs.

"She called the ambulance which saved my life.

"We are very close.

"She worries about me and stays with me quite a lot.

"I have a lot of complex medical conditions but she seems to understand it."

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 5.59pm on August 5 with reports of a person in the river at Crawford Meadows, Spetisbury. 

"Two fire engines were mobilised from Blandford and Sturminster Newton along with technical rescue crews from Poole. 

"On arrival, firefighters found one woman in the river who had entered the water to rescue her dog. 

"Crews assisted the lady from the water and provided casualty care until the ambulance was in attendance."