WHEN Ann Smith saw a mongrel near her holiday home in Spain, the abandoned animal was emaciated and had broken ribs.

Mrs Smith, of Longfellow Drive, Abingdon, took the dog in, called her Sami and brought her home.

Now seven years later, the pet has repaid the pensioner’s kindness by raising the alarm when she slipped and fell on the kitchen floor at midnight on Friday.

Retired Pergamon Press worker Mrs Smith, 67, suffers chronic rheumatoid arthritis and was unable to get up after she fell on the tiled surface.

But Sami spotted she was in distress and raced upstairs to alert her son, BMW worker David Smith, 38, who lives at the house. After barking, and scratching on the bedroom door, Sami woke up Mr Smith.

He then heard his mother shouting for help from downstairs and came down to make sure she was okay.

Mum-of-five Mrs Smith said: “I started getting arthritis when I was about 35 and over the years a lot of my joints have been replaced – you could say I’m a bit of a bionic lady.

“But with my artificial knees, once you are down on the floor it is very hard to get up again.

“I cried out for help but David didn’t hear me.

“Sami saw what had happened and ran straight upstairs to get David’s attention.

“David was really surprised when he realised what had happened and luckily I was not seriously hurt.

“I was only lying there for a few minutes but without Sami’s help it could have been longer.

“I’m not sure what breed Sami is, but she was so skinny and sad when I got her and now she is such a lovely companion.

“I go out to Spain for a couple of months twice a year and Sami always comes with me.”

Mrs Smith and her late husband Alan Smith bought their house in the Spanish resort of Orihuela about 12 years ago.

Mrs Smith’s son Jim Smith, 34, an electrician from St Christopher’s Place, Cowley, said: “Mum rescued Sami and now she has helped to rescue mum. I think it’s quite magical.”