A mystery hero waded into icy water to rescue a drowning dog in Liverpool’s Greenbank Park as onlookers watched in suspense.

A small dog got into trouble after running on to the ice-covered lake, as the dog’s owner and other walkers looked on helplessly. Rory Hayes, who witnessed the incident said: "The owner and her child stood about screaming and crying, attracting the attention of all in the park."

"There was a debate among onlookers about the depth of the water and icy conditions, and the owners were advised not to jump in after the dog because it wasn’t safe," Hayes explained.

Then a man appeared and decided to take matters into his own hands and rescue the animal as it frantically tried to swim back. "After two minutes of frantic struggling, the dog was nearing death until an unknown man appeared, took off his shoes, jumped in, smashed his way through the ice and pulled the dog out. The dog had a look of terror on its face and its eyes were frozen in fear,” described Hayes. "After he was warmly applauded by all watching, the man quickly disappeared again as the owners whisked the dog home for a warm bath."

The rescuer was described as a man around 6ft 2ins tall, in his early 30s, with brown hair and a beard. Hayes added: "He was as cool as anything and looked like he knew the water was only waist high. It was a real relief to see him pulling the dog out. I think I was happier than the owner.” Of the unknown man, Hays recalled: "Everyone went away buzzing because somebody had been a hero."

• dog rescue
• icy lake
• Greenback Park