VIDEO: Watch as RNLI crewman crawls across mud to reach stranded dog in dramatic Portsmouth rescue

The footage comes as the heroic lifeboat volunteers were reunited with little Minnie Mouse, who they helped to save from almost-certain death.

The tiny Brussels Griffon was rescued on Monday afternoon after becoming marooned on a mudbank in Langstone Harbour.

Crews managed to pluck her from the soft mud just minutes before strong tidal waters engulfed it and swept Minnie Mouse out to sea.

And last night, the plucky pup was reunited with its saviours when its owner brought the terrier-like pooch into the RNLI base in Portsmouth.

Aaron Gent, of Portsmouth RNLI, said the team was thrilled to see Minnie Mouse – even trainee crewman Joshua Bowe who was bitten by the dog during the rescue.

‘We were delighted to see Minnie Mouse looking so well,’ he said.

‘She was almost like a different dog. She was up and she was lively. She looked bigger too.

‘She just seemed really relaxed and happy.’

He added: ‘She’s really tiny but she was stood on the kitchen bench saying hello to everyone and investigating the station.’

Mini Mouse had been missing for more than a day when two walkers spotted the frightened pup shivering on the small mudbank.

RNLI teams were scrambled to the scene and scooped Minnie Mouse from the harbour before cleaning the pet and returning the dog to its owner.