It was reported this week that a pregnant sheepdog had a miracle escape after she was run over by a 15-tonne Claas forage harvester - and survived because she was squashed into the soft mud.

Winnie with owner Josh Sibley and the forage harvester she went under pictured in The Birdport & Lyme Regis News. Pic: BNPS

The Bridport & Lyme Regis News says shepherd Josh Sibley feared the worst when Winnie, a Border Collie, chased a rabbit under the forager harvester.

While the rabbit made it out the other side Winnie went under the 4ft wide rear wheel of the machine.

Luckily, because the ground was so soft Winnie was pinned down into the mud rather than being crushed to death by the tyre.

When the tractor rolled away Winnie got up and bolted, leaving behind a dog-shaped hole imprinted in the ground. She collapsed moments later due to two popped lungs and a fractured pelvis.

Winnie was rushed to a vets and after a tense five days of treatment costing £3,000 she pulled through and was allowed home.

A scan of her stomach a few days later found the three-year-old dog's pups had also survived the ordeal.

Josh told the local paper, "The whole time she was at the vets I thought any minute I would get a phone call that she's not made it.

"We had agreed with the vets we weren't really worried about the puppies, we thought she would lose them, we just wanted to get her through it.

"We waited about ten days and then the vet scanned Winnie's stomach. She could tell straight away they were fine, hearts beating and they looked bigger than the last scan.

"We couldn't believe it, it was like a second miracle.

"Winnie is on maternity leave now, she's doing very well but she still needs to rest."