RNLI St Ives launch to rescue dog
RNLI St Ives help rescue a dog that had fallen over a cliff
The St Ives Lifeboat crew launched the Inshore Lifeboat on service at 2:11pm this afternoon (12 December). With Charles Anderson-Smith as helm and two other volunteer crew members on board they quickly made their way to Deadman’s Cove to assist the Coastguard Cliff Rescue team. A young Golden Retriever had fallen over the cliff and onto the rocks below.
When they reached the scene two crew members went ashore to locate the dog. They found the dog and placed him in a sling to be hoisted up to the top of the cliff by the Cliff Rescue team. A veterinary surgeon was waiting to check the young dog who was, thankfully, not badly injured.
The Inshore Lifeboat encountered some problems retrieving the crew from the bottom of the cliff. The incoming tide and the fading light made it difficult for the lifeboat to get close enough for the crew members to get on board. As soon as they managed to board the lifeboat they headed back to the boathouse where the Inshore Lifeboat was refuelled, washed down and made ready for service.
We would like to use this incident to highlight the importance of keeping dogs on leads whilst walking along the clifftops. A dog could easily chase something such as a seagull or rabbit and go over the cliff.
The dog owners did the right thing today and called 999 and asking for the coastguard instead of attempting to rescue their dog.
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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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