Rosa the Retriever saved by Sea Palling lifeguards

At around 3:30pm on Saturday 3 July, RNLI lifeguards at Sea Palling were alerted by a member of the public about a dog in danger. Rosa, a Golden Retriever, began swimming further out to sea to follow a group of seals.

Although witnesses had already called 999 to alert the Coastguard of the dog’s increasingly dangerous situation, the RNLI team at Sea Palling entered the water to rescue the dog immediately. Lifeguard Tom Owen stayed on the beach to continue monitoring the lifeguarded area.

Two lifeguards, Rebecca Cooper and Greta Balfour, paddled out to Rosa on rescue boards. With Rosa’s attention focused entirely on the seals, the team of two had to manoeuvre their rescue boards to guide the determined dog back to shore. The lifeguards wanted to avoid putting Rosa on the rescue board so to not distress her further, but also had to judge her state in case she was tired. They found Rosa still full of energy and encouraged her to swim alongside the rescue boards back to shore.

Once ashore, the Sea Palling RNLI team ensured that the dog had not taken in too much water and then reunited Rosa with her owner.

Lifeguard Rebecca Cooper congratulated Rosa’s owner for staying calm and not entering the water: ‘Although Rosa was stuck out at sea, it was great that her owner stayed calm and dialled 999 for the Coastguard.

'The RNLI rescue animals to ensure that the public don’t put themselves in danger by trying to do so. Rosa’s owner’s level-headedness meant that we could bring her dog back safely.’


If your pet goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, don't go after it. Move to a place you can get to safely and call its name. If you think your pet is in danger, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

For more information please visit:

https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety

For the RNLI's detailed advice for dog owners, visit:

https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/coastal-walking/dog-walking

Notes to editors

RNLI Sea Palling lifeguard service has been operating since 2001. To learn more about the lifeguarded beach go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches/sea-palling-beach

Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Ted Morgan is available for interview.

Photo Credit

RNLI/Derry Salter

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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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