St Bees RNLI in harbourside dog rescue

St Bees RNLI volunteers were paged at 3:15pm after a distressed dog walker had reported their pet was unable to get ashore from the outer harbour at Whitehaven.

With the difficulties faced in launching an inshore lifeboat during the pandemic and to comply with social distancing guidelines, the crew assembled in the car park before preparing themselves and the lifeboat for launching. They arrived on scene less than half an hour from being paged.

On arriving at the harbour a member of the Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team indicated the dog’s location. The RNLI lifeboat came alongside the cold and shivering but friendly dog and brought it onboard. There was insufficient water in the outer harbour to enable the lifeboat to reach the shore so a crew member waded ashore carrying the dog and handed it over to a member of the Coastguard Team.

If you are enjoying a stroll along the beach or cliffs or walking your dog around the harbour please remember to keep your pet on a lead. Remember to check the weather and tides and help keep yourself, RNLI volunteers and all the emergency services safe.

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.