The Blue Heeler pup was being taken for a leisurely bushwalk on January 3 when he dashed off the path – and didn’t return.

His owner found him at the bottom of a 15-metre mine shaft, and called emergency services.

“We all worked together really well,” said Moruya Fire and rescue spokesman Mark Gould.

“We used a gas detector to check the air quality before putting a member of the SES down the shaft.”

Moruya SES said they received the call at about 8.30pm.

“The dog walked straight off the track and into the shaft – the area was called Donkey Hill, and it was a small mining village last centure a couple of km’s south of Moruya,” SES spokesman Chris Zammit said.

“It’s mainly disused mine shafts now, on Crown Land, so it’s not signed or fenced off or anything.

“Everyone was pretty happy to see us – especially the dog.

“We worked together (with other emergency services) as a team, it was really good.”

Mr Zammit said it was not the first time he had performed such a rescue.

“It’s the same area and circumstances as one I did a few years ago,” he said.

“It’s remarkable they can fall so far, and be ok.”