North Berwick RNLI launch to people in the water attempting to rescue dog

With confusion as to the number of casualties in the water, and the location of North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) a decision was made to carry out a beach landing at Seacliff beach and make the way to the scene on foot.

Once on the beach it was confirmed that members of the CRT were on scene and had the casualties out of the water and a member of the team had hands on the dog though she was still in the water. Our volunteers provided casualty care to the two casualties who had been in the water and assisted the CRT in extracting the dog from the water using an animal rescue bag.

Thankfully all involved in the incident were unharmed, if cold and did not require any further treatment. Our volunteers were informed by Aberdeen Coastguard that due to the sea conditions Dunbar RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat (ALB), John Neville Taylor, had been tasked to oversee North Berwick’s D-class inshore lifeboat’s return to station.

The two lifeboats met up before Dunbar ALB were tasked to another incident. No further information is available at this time. North Berwick Lifeboat returned to station safely and the crew caught up on the final few minutes of the Scotland V Italy Six nations game whilst changing out of their drysuits.

Helm, Matthew Gibbons said; ‘Thankfully this rescue had a positive outcome, though the conditions certainly made it a challenge. We fully understand the emotions involving dogs, but if you see a dog in difficulty at the coast, we urge you to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard immediately.’

‘Move to a place the dog can get to safely and call them – they might be able to get out themselves. Don’t try and enter the water to help, all too often that leads to tragedy, await for the arrival of the emergency services.’

‘We’d like to thank the members of the public who assisted the dog and dog owner and stayed with them until all had been recovered.’

This news release was updated on 2 March 2026 at 6pm to include David's side of the story and correct Sparkle's age.

Notes to editors

• It cost £1,360 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
• 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.

RNLI media contacts

Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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