Looe RNLI volunteers rescue Roxy the Bulldog from Looe river

Mid morning, Monday 31 March 2025, members of our RNLI volunteer crew on East Looe quay, were made aware of a radio message between harbour staff saying that a dog had fallen into the river at Pennyland. Before making their way to the lifeboat station, they contacted our station’s duty launch authority Dave, who paged additional crew to go and assist. Whilst on the phone to Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to inform them the D Class inshore lifeboat was launching; Dave received their tasking request, as the MRCC were taking multiple 999 calls reporting the same incident. Within six minutes head launcher Brian and tractor driver Eric were launching the charity’s D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II. As the incident was on the Pennyland walkway immediately opposite the station, our crew Tom, Victoria and Will were on scene within the minute, to find a bulldog called Roxy in the water being assisted by her owner Liam who had waded in to rescue his pet. Passers by, who also raised the alarm, assisted Liam by passing down one of the life rings. Confirming both Liam and Roxy were uninjured our crew helped them on board the inshore lifeboat and crossed the river back to the lifeboat station, where the D Class was recovered by shore crew Adam, Dan, Amber and Mark.

Roxy’s owner, Liam, was joined by his partner at the lifeboat station, as the couple left with Roxy, they thanked our crew for their assistance and asked us to pass on their heartfelt thanks to the members of the public who raised the alarm and came to their assistance on Pennyland. Liam went on to explain that they always have Roxy on a lead as she is partially sighted, somehow they lost their footing and Roxy fell into the river. Liam was relieved to find Roxy was uninjured as she had a softer landing in water, missing the rocks that were being exposed as the tide fell.

Our volunteer crew were also relieved to find both Roxy and Liam unscathed from their adventure. Giving Roxy a bowl of water to drink at the station they commented on how close the incident was to the lifeboat station and how the shout took less than 20 minutes to complete from the pager sounding.

END

Notes to editors

Photos:

· Looe RNLI crew with the D Class ILB Ollie Naismith II on scene at Pennyland
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Looe RNLI crew with Roxy on the lifeboat slipway
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

· Roxy
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.