Dog rescued after falling down the cliff on the River Yealm.

Dog rescued after falling down the cliff on the River Yealm.

Plymouth RNLI volunteers launch the All Weather Lifeboat (Sybil Mullen Glover) and the Inshore Lifeboat (Annabel E Jones) after reports from Falmouth Coastguard that a dog had fallen down the cliff at Silver Cove on the River Yealm.

Whilst proceeding to the scene Falmouth Coastguard reported that the owner had reached the dog but was then also stuck on the cliff.

A volunteer Lifeboat crewman from the Inshore Lifeboat ( Richard Ham ) was put ashore in the failing light to make contact with the casualty and provide reassurance until further assistance from the Coastguard teams arrived. The lifeboat was then able to guide Plymouth and Yealm Coastguard rescue officers down the cliff where they assisted the owner and injured dog to safety.

All Weather Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat returned to station ready for service.

We’re asking the public to help save more lives by sharing some simple survival skills:

Please remember to keep dogs on leads if they’re walking close to cliff edges and remember the best thing to do if your pet gets into trouble at the coast is don't enter the water or attempt to rescue them yourself, instead call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly, fight your instincts and float until the effects of cold water shock pass.

The RNLI have continued to save lives during the pandemic and faced a busy summer as lockdown restrictions were eased. The charity has purchased £1.2M worth of coronavirus PPE to keep their lifesavers safe. This was money they hadn’t planned to spend, at a time when RNLI shops were forced to close and fundraising events were cancelled.

As a charity, the RNLI relies on the support of the public to continue saving lives. Help us brave a wave we never expected. To donate to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact John Baldry Plymouth Lifeboat Press Officer, on [email protected] or 07792649768, or RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or via [email protected].

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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.