RNLI lifeguards save Coco the dog seen struggling in the water at Rye Harbour
RNLI lifeguards have saved a cocker spaniel called Coco who fell into the water at Rye Harbour and found himself having difficulty returning to shore.
The incident happened at 10am on Sunday (5 June) when members of the public witnessed a dog struggling and contacted HM Coastguard as they were also worried the owner would attempt to get into the water to rescue her four-legged friend.
Assisted with advice from lifeguard supervisor Leon Driver, RNLI lifeguards Owain and Peter used the four-wheel drive (4WD) patrol truck and drove to Rye Harbour where the dog had been spotted, to investigate. The lifeguards quickly alerted the owner not to go into the water and asked for the dog's name.
Upon arrival, they noticed that the harbour was sloped on the Eastern side, so they encouraged and directed the pet to swim across and return to the shore where they were located. Once back to safety, Coco was visibly cold and shivering, so one of the lifeguards used his fleece to keep him warm. Finally, the lifeguard team returned to Camber West lifeguard unit and reunited the worried owner with her beloved pet over at Western car park.
Coco's owner has dropped a thank you card and brownies for the lifeguards at Camber Sands beach as a heartfelt appreciation. She is also planning to raise money for the RNLI and HM Coastguard for their support with the incident.
For more information on how to keep your beloved pets safe on the coast, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/coastal-walking/dog-walking
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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 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, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.