New Quay RNLI launch to person and dog in the water

The inshore lifeboat, Audrey LJ, launched at 2:20pm with four crew members on board and made good speed for Cei Bach. It became apparent that the person had made it safely back to the beach but that their dog was missing in the water.

In a fresh offshore wind, the crew began searching for Toby, the 8-year-old springer spaniel. Crew member Simon Rigby said, “Even in a calm conditions, it’s difficult to find a small, dark coloured object at sea. Initially there was no sign of the dog but suddenly I spotted him, almost a mile offshore.”

The crew hauled Toby onto the lifeboat and took him back to the beach to reunite him with his grateful owner.

Toby’s owner said, “I am incredibly grateful to the New Quay RNLI crew for saving Toby. It was the first time he’d been to the beach and he started chasing a bird. It all happened so fast and I tried to save him, but he went too far. I thought he was gone.”

A bystander, Kathy Smith added, “It was amazing, we all couldn’t believe it that the dog was alive, we thought he would be dead. We were all in tears on the beach, it was very emotional!”

On returning to station, and while preparing the inshore lifeboat for its next service, the crew were tasked to assist New Quay Coastguard Rescue Team and the RNLI Lifeguards with an injured person on New Quay pier.

The lifeboat crew administered pain relief and helped to keep the casualty comfortable until an Ambulance Service paramedic arrived. The crew then assisted in evacuating the casualty on a stretcher.

Roger Couch, New Quay RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager said, “If your dog gets into difficulty at the beach or on the coast, do not put yourself at risk by entering the water. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and help will soon arrive.”

Notes to editors

For more information contact Kate Williams, New Quay Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or 07786 550054.

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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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