FOUR men who risked their lives to save a drowning woman from a swollen river will be recommended for bravery awards.

They were unable to save former nurse Caroline Peck, 40, who was swept away by the River Stour, Blandford, when she tried to rescue her dog.

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston told an inquest in Dorchester he would be recommending Peter Collington, Richard Reichart, Robert Jerrard, and Christopher Chard for bravery awards from the Royal Humane Society.

Mr Johnston said: "I have great admiration for people who will go to help others.

"There are an awful lot of people who will stand and watch and shout advice but they are not prepared to do very much.

"We have four people here who did a great deal and risked their own lives and I think they should be most highly applauded.

"I personally think you deserve some sort of award."

Miss Peck's brother-in-law Christopher Stephenson, speaking on behalf of the family, said that they would support Mr Johnston's recommendation for awards for the men, all from Blandford.

Recording a narrative verdict that Miss Peck drowned when she entered the water to try and save her dog, Mr Johnston said on December 10 the 40-year-old from Pentridge, near Sixpenny Handley, was out walking her golden retriever, Clara, who got into difficulty in the turbulent water.

After calling to her dog, who became trapped in the weir, Miss Peck went into the water and was quickly dragged under.

The official cause of death was drowning but Mr Johnston said Miss Peck was almost certainly killed immediately by the shock of the cold water.

Passer-by Mr Collington saw Miss Peck on the river bank and ran over the Blue Bridge to get to her, but by the time he arrived, there was no sign of her or the dog.

He said: "I looked in the water and Caroline was in the water under the surface. I could see her head. She wasn't struggling - it was as if she had been overwhelmed almost immediately.

"The only thing I could think of doing was going in there right away and see if I could get hold of her."

Mr Collington jumped in but by the time he resurfaced she had disappeared.

Also watching from the banks was Mr Reichart, a non-swimmer who tried to pull Mr Collington out with a branch.

They linked hands but couldn't hold on and Mr Collinton was swept away.

He managed to grab hold of an over-hanging branch and was pulled out of the water by Mr Jerrard, who had waded into the water.

After speaking to the emergency services, Mr Chard also went into the water, grabbing Mr Collington and hauling him up the bank.

Miss Peck's body was found by police divers two days later. Her dog had managed to climb out safely.

Mr Johnston gave a warning to dog owners. He said: "Can I suggest to dog owners - and I am a passionate dog owner - your animal will almost certainly get out of the trouble it got itself into and we are risking our own life and others going to rescue it."