Man unable to save wife who died trying to rescue pet, inquest told

A husband saw his wife die trying to save their beloved Labrador from a fast-flowing river in north Wales after he battled in vain to reach her, an inquest heard.

Animal-lover Gail Theresa Lloyd, 50, went into the river at Erddig Country Park in north Wales to reach her pet after taking her two dogs on a walk with her husband Martin Lloyd on December 9.

Mr Lloyd told police their Fox-Red Labrador called Cadwy had jumped into the water – and that his wife had entered it in an attempt to save her pet.

He said he was walking ahead of Mrs Lloyd on a footpath alongside the fast-flowing River Clywedog when he turned to see her in the water.

‘I was calling ‘Get out, get out’,’ he said.

Animal-lover Gail Theresa Lloyd (pictured), 50, went into the river at Erddig Country Park in north Wales to reach her pet

Husband Martin Lloyd (pictured) told police their Fox-Red Labrador called Cadwy had jumped into the water – and that his wife had entered it in an attempt to save her pet

Mr Lloyd said he was walking ahead of his wife on a footpath alongside the fast-flowing River Clywedog (pictured) when he turned to see her in the water

Mr Lloyd waded into the water but his wife was no longer upright.

‘I just could not reach her,’ he said.

William Cossins was taking part in a Parkrun when he heard screaming and went to assist along with other passers-by.

They managed to help Mr Lloyd with a rope attached to his wrist to the riverbank as he became increasingly weaker.

Mr Cossins said: ‘It was too risky to go into the water myself.’

Mrs Lloyd, of Wrexham, was pronounced dead by paramedics after being brought from the water, the inquest heard.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said: ‘The circumstances are incredibly tragic.

She said: ‘Tragically, in trying to rescue her dog Gail paid with her life.’

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