IN MEMORY OF DARCY

Here’s the Story of Athena “The M1/M18 Collision German Shepherd” and How K9-RSQ Played a Key Role in her Search…

On Saturday March 15 2025, Darcy’s family from Newark were travelling home from a long walk in the Peaks. With the family in their car were their three beloved fur babies, Darcy, Mabel, Springer Spaniel Sisters, and Athena the German Shepherd.

At approximately 18:35, a serious road traffic collision occurred on the M1 Southbound near the M18 slip road, involving the family and their pets.

Tragically, Darcy, the family’s Springer Spaniel, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge immediately after the accident. Mabel, Darcy’s sister, was safely secured, but their companion, Athena, a German Shepherd, panicked and escaped along the M1/M18 slip road.

Read About The Drone Darcy Fundraiser Here

K9-RSQ Main Search Partners – Drone Pilots Erica Hart (HARTSAR) and The Drone Ranger

ATHENA: Female 1.5 years. Saturday 15th March 2025 – M1 Collision Dog Rescue (Accident occurred near Morthen, small area near the M1/M18)

Owners Mark & Michelle Storer from Newark

Saturday 15th March 18:45

Collision on M1 Southbound in the area of Morthen as the M1 South meets the M18 East Slip Road. Athena Escaped onto M1/M18 Slip Road – One other family dog, a Springer spaniel, named Darcy sadly died, and another Springer Spaniel, Mabel, remained safe with the owners.

Police searched the immediate area and used a drone to search for Athena.

There were no sightings.

Sunday 16th / Monday 17th March:

On Sunday K9-RSQ were asked for help by friends of the owners and quickly established lines of contact.

A Facebook Messenger group was also created with the owners, their key friends and family, and the K9-RSQ team and HARTSAR (Drone Search).

The K9-RSQ team helped by volunteers and Social Media followers trawled through all local Facebook Groups, community and Dog Forums looking for sightings and making posts asking members of the public to help with sightings.

By now Athena would most likely be in “flight” or “survival” mode which happens when dogs become separated from their owners and lost in the open.

Members of the public are asked never to approach a lost dog in flight mode. Even the owners in most cases should be very cautious in approaching their own pets because of the chance of the dog to fly, even the most loyal dogs can act in fear and retreat from their owners.

Rather we ask the public for sightings, precise pin drops and direction of travel. And especially to take a photo if possible.

K9-RSQ also managed to trace motorway witnesses called Hannah to Athena’s last known location on the M18 Slip Road just prior to her heading into the bushes and fields towards Morthen.

With this information provided by witnesses Drone Pilots Erica Hart (HARTSAR) and Nathan Crossley (THE DRONE RANGER) flew over the area near where Athena left the M18 Slip Road near MORTHEN (South West of Wickersley) the area that backs on to the M1 South slip road towards the M18 Eastbound. Erica Hart flew for 4 hours on either side of the M18 slip road.

Members of the K9-RSQ ground team headed towards Thurcroft where two separate, credible (but not confirmed) sightings were made.

A DRONE sweep of the area near Thurcroft Cemetery and allotments was made by THE DRONE RANGER Nathan Crossley, but no luck.

Tuesday 18th March:

The search was relocated from Thurcroft to the Morthen Area after the two separate sightings proved to be other dogs, not Athena. This was established by K9-RSQ team members speaking with local residents who identified the two sightings as local similar dogs that often escape and traverse that area.

Late evening Tuesday 18th March the search took a big swing in focus on when all Drone and Search efforts were withdrawn from Thurcroft area after two credible sightings had turned out to be other local dogs. This was determined by K9-RSQ with the help of two locals and after extensive investigations in the area.

K9-RSQ had deployed two surveillance cameras and feed stations in this original crash location area near Morthen, adding a third late Tuesday night.

Wednesday 19th March:

K9-RSQ and the Owners Facebook Messenger Chat lit up with a huge surge in activity.

There had been a CONFIRMED sighting in fields near Morthen.

08:20 Sighting in Morthen south of Wickersley at Pinchmill Fishery near to original crash site.

Ladies on horseback spotted her and alerted the owners who alerted K9-RSQ

08:30 Owners headed to the location while the K9-RSQ Trap Team were making ready to bring a humane trap to the site, another team member headed to the nearby Morrisons for a Hot Roast Chicken to bait the trap.

Erica Hart – HARTSAR Drone Pilot – was readying to head to the scene.

Athena had taken cover in thick bushes near Sorby Way Field, whilst members of the public were advised to sit back and leave her alone until the owners arrived.

With the help of the ladies on Horseback and Pinchmill Fishery eyes were kept on Athena who was now playing with another little dog out for a walk with its owner who were advised to stay back and just let the dogs play as Athena could still be in “Flight Mode” with regard to humans.

With the K9-RSQ team en route, Michelle and Mark Storer, Athena’s owners arrived at the location just after two dog walkers, Rob and Sam, had managed to feed her with Gregg’s sausage rolls. With Rob finally safely managing to attach a lead to Athena.

Thankfully Athena was safely reunited around 08:35 on Wednesday morning 19th March.

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The search effort for Athena had been huge since the moment Athena ran from the scene of the crash. The owners driving every day from Newark to assist K9-RSQ in the search effort. Drones had been deployed by Erica Hart – HARTSAR, Nathan Crossley – The Drone Ranger, whilst the K9-RSQ team had deployed multiple surveillance cameras and food station in a attempt to entice Athena on to camera and then humane trapping. Key assistance was also provided remotely from as far afield as Shropshire by Tasha Robinson from The Missing Dog Support Team.

MESSAGE  From Michelle and Mark the owners…

We are so thrilled to have Athena home – these last few days have been an emotional roller-coaster from the moment of the accident till we were reunited yesterday.

There had been a number of potential but no confirmed sightings for 4 days, we just kept looking and sharing and working as a team. It all paid off in the end with members of the public on horseback spotting her followed by some dog walkers who lured her with their Greggs sausage rolls and managed to keep her at the scene until we arrived.

She was so pleased to see us, thankfully apart from aches she is unhurt (she’s been vet checked) and since being home just wants to sleep and eat. We are so grateful for everyone’s support it has been amazing.