Dog's lucky escape

A COASTGUARD volunteer risked his life to save two dogs after they survived a fall from a 300ft cliff at Seaford Head.

The drama unfolded on Wednesday last week after Stephie, a fox terrier, and Annie, a retriever, plunged over the cliff while chasing rabbits.

The dogs owners, a middle aged couple from Seaford, looked on in horror as Annie landed on a ledge 50ft down the cliff face and Stephie plummeted to the beach below.

The Newhaven Coastguard cliff rescue team was soon on the scene, including station officer Dave Riggs.

He said: Our youngest member, Nick Stanyard, volunteered to go down and was lowered on a harness attached to a winch. He grabbed the collar of the dog on the ledge and was pulled back up to the top of the cliff. Luckily, the dog was passive. He seemed to know he was being rescued.

Now the smaller dog, Stephie, had to be rescued. Nick volunteered again and began the treacherous descent to the beach.

Stephie was placed in a special animal harness nicknamed the doggy bag and pulled to safety.

Dave added: When Nick went over he was in a very hazardous situation. He was putting his own life in danger. Whenever someone goes over the cliffs on a rescue they do not do it lightly. The cliffs are treacherous, especially with the risk of cliff falls.

It was unusual for a dog to survive such a huge fall, said Dave. We were amazed it was still alive. The cliff is a 300ft sheer drop.

Stephie was taken to a Seaford vet where she was treated for a suspected broken pelvis. Annie suffered no serious injury.

This was the fourth time this year the Newhaven Coastguard has received a call to rescue a dog from a cliff fall. Earlier this year a pedigree Crufts dog suffered a similar fate when it fell over cliffs at Peacehaven.

Dave warned dog owners to be on their guard and ensure their animals were kept on leads near to the cliff edge.