RNLI Lifeguards Training Turns to Real Life Dog Rescue
The RNLI Lifeguards from Whitesands beach were out training some new team members on Wednesday (6 June), when they were called to rescue a dog that had fallen 50ft down a cliff.
The RNLI Lifeguards were busy undertaking rescue paddleboard training and beach familiarisation of new recruits on Wednesday, June 6. A call over the radio came in from another lifeguard on the shore to say that two members of the public had approached them in distress, telling him that they had witnessed their dog falling off a cliff at Porth Lleuog.
As the Lifeguards were not far from Porth Lleuog they made their way there on the rescue paddleboards. When they arrived they found the dog, named Lexie, at the foot of the cliff with a cut to her head and seemingly unable to move. A member of the public was also looking after her. Lifeguards back at the unit had at this point made contact with a local vet to ask for advice and this was relayed to the team via the radio. After some time Lexie began to move around slowly but it was apparent that she had injuries on her back legs.
After consulting the local vet the decision was made to transfer Lexie back to the beach so her owners could take her to the vets for treatment. Using a blanket as a makeshift stretcher Lexie was moved to the rescue paddle board and was floated back to the beach to her awaiting owners.
Negotiating the breaking waves and small swell that was running into the beach the Lifeguards were able to reunite Lexie with her relieved owners.
Sam Trevor, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor for North Pembrokeshire said: ‘This was quite a challenging rescue for our lifeguards, some of whom haven’t yet finished their training! But the fantastic team work between the experienced Supervisor Sean, lifeguards Matty, Calum and Morgan and new lifeguards Dafydd, Sean & Hywel. resulted in a successful outcome. We treated Lexie the same way we would have treated a human casualty to bring her back safely to her owners. I would like to say the owners made the right choice by reporting Lexie’s fall to us rather than putting themselves at risk by trying to rescue her themselves. We haven’t yet heard how Lexie is but hope to find out soon.’
Key facts about the RNLI
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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