St Davids RNLI rescue dog after cliff fall

With concerns that the owners were attempting to enter the water to rescue their pet, the charity’s all-weather lifeboat Norah Wortley launched and made best speed to the area, arriving on scene within 15 minutes of launching.

Once on scene, our volunteer crew liaised with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, Raven, which passed first-hand information as to the possible location of the dog to the lifeboat. By this point the owners had been informed of our launch and were no longer considering entering the water.

Due to the nature of the cliff base and the choppy sea conditions, the Y-boat was deployed to look for the dog. It was a difficult task in a difficult location but the crew were able to retrieve the injured dog.

Once the dog was recovered, the Y-Boat crew with Norah Wortley escort took the dog around to Abereiddy to reunite it with its owners.

With the rescue complete, the Y-Boat was recovered and the all-weather lifeboat returned to station, rehousing at 2:20pm.

Will Chant, RNLI Coxswain for St Davids lifeboat, says, “It was no easy task accessing the cliff base in swell conditions, trying to locate the injured dog, but thankfully we were able to locate and reunite successfully. Thanks to the the crew of the Raven for their invaluable help, and HM Coastguard St Davids for their shoreside support.”

*If visiting the coast, keep dogs on leads.

*If your dog gets into difficulty, do not attempt to follow over a cliff or into the sea - call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

For more information please telephone Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 804 922 or [email protected] or Claire Elshaw, Regional Media Officer on 7468 353 082 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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