RNLI rescues injured dog after tumbling 100ft down cliff

Yogi the spaniel fell over the edge of the cliff last week while on a walk with his owner, Emily Linehan, who immediately dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard.

Torbay RNLI lifeboat was quickly launched, and the dog was spotted by volunteer crew members cowering at the base of the cliff, wet, cold and with injuries to his legs, eye and spine.

Crew member Jack Hawkett was put ashore and gently coaxed the frightened dog out from the cliffs. He carried him on board the lifeboat, where he was taken back to shore to be reunited with his owner.

Emily said: ‘I’m so grateful to the crew. There are no words for how I feel right now.

‘I’m so impressed with how kind everyone was – all the crew were amazing. Yogi wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the RNLI.’

In the fall Yogi suffered a fractured spine, fractured ribs, nerve damage, and an injured eye. He was rushed to a veterinary surgeon for emergency surgery but has now been released and is at home recovering.

Emily said: ‘It looks like he’s going to make a full recovery and will be able to run like he could before. He’s a very lucky boy.’

Lifeboat helm James Hoare said: 'We’re just so glad we found him quickly as he was cold and shaking as well as injured. We wish him all the very best and the fastest possible recovery.’

When visiting the coast with your dog the RNLI’s key safety advice is:

• Keep dogs on a lead if you’re close to cliff edges or fast-flowing rivers.
• If your dog goes into the water or gets stuck in mud, don't go after them. Move to a place your dog can reach safely and call them.
• If you're worried about your dog, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

To donate to the RNLI’s lifesaving work go to GoDonate.org/RNLI

Notes to editors

· The video and images of Yogi’s rescue can be downloaded here: https://source.rnli.org.uk/share/A85BE550-38C6-458D-952353C50691A8C7/

· Visit https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/coastal-walking/dog-walking for advice on walking with a dog safely near the coast.

· For more stories about the RNLI’s animal rescues, Saved from the Waves, published by Harper Collins (RRP £15) is out now and available to buy from the RNLI online shop: https://shop.rnli.org/products/rnli-saved-from-the-waves-book

• The RNLI receives royalties from all sales.

For more information please telephone Tom Dale, Press Officer, on 07977 157959 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected].

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.