Tobermory RNLI assist local Coastguard teams to rescue fallen dog
Tobermory RNLI’s crew families’ breakfast was interrupted by the sound of the pager as the volunteer crew were tasked to take local Coastguard rescue teams to rescue a dog which had fallen off cliffs on Ardnamurchan.
On Sunday morning, crew members and their families were enjoying a big breakfast at the lifeboat station when the pagers sounded. The volunteer crew launched at 12.59pm with members of the Tobermory Coastguard Rescue Team and picked up their colleagues from Kilchoan and Salen en route. The crew then ferried the coastguards and their equipment ashore about two miles to the west of Kilchoan where the coastguards carried out a textbook cliff rescue of Meg the Collie who was returned safe and well to her owner. Meg’s experience was undoubtedly helped by the dog biscuits which the Tobermory RNLI volunteer crew had taken with them on the lifeboat.
Coxswain David McHaffie said: ‘Just two weeks ago, we trained with our colleagues from the coastguard teams on Mull and Ardnamurchan. Today's shout was joint working at its best and we were hugely pleased that due to the professionalism of our coastguard colleagues that Meg was reunited with her owner after a successful cliff rescue. Meg’s owner did exactly the right thing and contacted the coastguard as we don’t want anyone to put themselves at risk.’
Notes to editors
For further information, please contact Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager on 07747601900 or Gemma Macdonald, Regional Media Officer for Scotland on 07826 900639.
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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