FIREFIGHTERS were called to rescue a woman “on the verge of hypothermia” who had become stuck in deep mud caused by poor weather.

Crews from Gosport, Fareham, Cosham and Havant helped the woman, who had been trying to rescue her dog from Cockle Pond, in Gosport.

Rescue services are warning pet owners to think twice before trying to rescue pets following the incident this morning.

When the services arrived they found the woman, in her forties, trapped in mud up to her knees, shivering and on the verge of hypothermia as she had been stuck for more than 20 minutes.

HM Coastguard staff were asked to check the woman was OK after she had been pulled to safety.

The woman had become lodged in the mud when her spaniel had run into the mud surrounding the pond.

Fire crews used ladders and chimney sheets to help the woman to safety, with the whole operation lasting half an hour.

Blue Watch Gosport crew manager, Robbie Burns said: “The crew were encouraging her to continue to wriggle her feet.

“She managed to do a lot of work before we could pull her onto the sheet and walk her to safety.

“The dog managed to self rescue itself, and that is what we urge dog walkers not to rush in and try and save their pet, most of the time they are able to free themselves.”