Lucky dog counts the Costa living after surviving electric shock and being run over by a train

Last updated at 14:35 15 August 2007


Meet Costa, Britain's luckiest dog. The German shepherd was this week reunited with his relieved owner after not one, but two, separate brushes with death.

First of all the three-year-old family pet survived a powerful electric current when he ran on to live train tracks.

Moment later the dazed dog was run over by a passenger train and still lived to tell the tale. His distraught family feared for the worst.

But after days of treatment Costa made a full recovery.

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Now he is happily bouncing round the family home in Aigburth as if nothing had ever happened.

The drama unfolded as Alan Hill, son of owner David, was mowing the lawn outside the family home in Carlene Close.

The animal sneaked out of the house and scampered into nearby St Michael's station with Alan in hot pursuit.

But the 37-year-old watched in horror as Costa made his way on to the platform, busy with city centre commuters.

Ignoring Mr Hill's shouts the dog ran down a ramp on to the platform and then on to the tracks where he suffered a massive electric shock.

A train

Costa screamed in pain but the instant shock left him oblivious to the train rumbling towards him.

Mr Hill, 37, said: "Costa was just sitting on the track and everyone was shouting at him and telling me to move him.

"Then he started walking towards the train as it came down the tracks and I had to turn away as I couldn't look.

"When I looked back, he was still there, although he had lost his tail, as he must have ducked between the two wheels.

"It's amazing he wasn't killed." Network Rail shut off the 750 volt lines so Costa could be rescued and brought back to safety.

He was rushed to vets and had an operation on his tail as medics were worried he may have suffered internal bleeding.

Mr Hill added: "He's back to his best now, with a little stump where his tail should be, but we're all made up he's alive."