A man tried desperately to save his wife from a swollen river as she attempted to rescue their dog, an inquest heard.
Martin Lloyd himself had to be pulled to safety by passers-by but his wife Gail, 50, could not be revived. The tragedy occurred as the couple were walking their two dogs in Erddig Park on the outskirts of Wrexham on December 9.
In a statement read at the inquest at Ruthin Mr Lloyd, of Bury Street, Wrexham, said he was walking ahead of his wife on a footpath alongside the fast-flowing River Clywedog. He then saw that she had entered the river to try to reach their Fox-Red Labrador Cadwy which was in the water just below a weir.
"I was calling 'Get out, get out'," he said. Mr Lloyd waded into the water but his wife was no longer upright. "I just could not reach her," he explained. William Cossins, who was taking part in a Parkrun in the park, told police that he heard screaming and went to assist, along with other passers-by.
They managed to help Mr Lloyd, who had a rope attached to his wrist, to the riverbank as he became increasingly weaker. "It was too risky to go into the water myself," he said. When Mrs Lloyd was recovered a member of the public administered CPR but when the emergency services arrived she was declared dead at the scene. The cause of death was given as drowning.
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said: "The circumstances are incredibly tragic. Tragically, in trying to rescue her dog Gail paid with her life."
An online tribute shortly after the tragedy said :"Anyone who knew Gail would describe her as the most selfless person, always putting others first. The Erddig Parkrun marshals and runners helped Martin during the tragic incident and they went above and beyond to give Gail a fighting chance. We will always be in their debt for their help.
"To say 'thank you' for all of their efforts we would like to support The Erddig Parkrun team purchase much-needed equipment that will help in future runs. Walkie talkies are next on the list to help marshals at different parts of the course, and possibly a second defibrillator to aid runners and walkers of Erddig Park."