Roxy the beagle rescued after falling down Talbotville mine shaft

An unexpected call turned into a 12-hour rescue mission as emergency services raced to save a beloved beagle that had fallen deep into a mine shaft.

Ellie with Chelsea and her beagle, Roxy, on Thursday morning after Roxy was rescued from the mine shaft in Victoria’s high country. Picture: Supplied

An unexpected call turned into a 12-hour rescue mission as emergency services raced to save a dog that had fallen deep into a mine shaft.

Roxy peers out of the mine shaft at 8am on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied / Derek Gibson

Roxy had been on a bush trip with owner Chelsea Gibson to Talbotville in Victoria’s high country when she was allowed off the lead to have a sniff around about 8am.

But minutes later, a GPS tracker on her collar lost all signal.

Roxy the beagle was rescued from a mine shaft near Talbotville in Victoria’s high country on Wednesday night. Picture: Facebook / Chelsea Gibson

Worried someone had stolen her dog, Chelsea and her dad, Derek, raced to her last location — an old mine shaft.

Somehow, miraculously, the beagle had survived the 15m drop and was looking up at them, tail wagging.

Rescuers worked for hours to save the pooch. Picture: Facebook / Chelsea Gibson

Roxy makes it back to the surface. Picture: Facebook / Chelsea Gibson

The family spent hours trying to figure out how to get the pooch out before rescue crews — specialist units, volunteers from the VICSES Stratford Unit and FRV crews — arrived about midday.

In “fairly isolated terrain”, according to an SES volunteer, it took another eight hours to bring a very excited Roxy back to the surface.

The Maffra Fire Brigade provided hot soup, tea and coffee for all involved after some crew members were at the mine shaft for hours. Picture: Facebook

“(We were) very relieved — it was a very anxious and worrying 12 hours,” Derek told the Herald Sun.

Back at the campsite, while rescuers warmed themselves by the fire, Roxy was in her element — getting pats from all around.

The Gibson family thanked all involved in the incredible rescue, and on Thursday said they were on their way home, safe and sound.