This is the heartwarming moment a male dog sat anxiously with rescue workers as they saved his female mate stuck down a sewer.

The pooch was seen whimpering by next to the manhole in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, on July 11.

Passing pensioner Ratchai Anan, 67, was walking through the area when he heard the troubled dog and stopped to help.

The emergency services arrived and one of the team climbed into the concrete pit to search for the frightened dog. They ushered her back along the pipe before she emerged into the open around 50ft away.

Footage shows the moment the relieved male dog was reunited with her mate before they scampered away together.

Resident Ratchai Anan said the two dogs are among a group of strays that he feeds. He has named the boy Namtan and the female Kafae.

He said: "I come here everyday to feed the stray dogs but today I did not see Kafae so I walked around looking for her.

"Then I heard barking from under the manhole so I contacted the rescue team to come and help. Perhaps she might have run away from the other dogs and was stuck while hiding in the pipes.''