RNLI lifeguards save Coco the dog seen struggling in the water at Rye Harbour

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.

Lifeguard Owain said: 'I am really happy that we were able to rescue and keep warm a very tired dog and ensure the owner's safety. However, I want to remind members of the public that if their pet goes into the water or gets stuck in the mud, they should not go after it because they are endangering themselves. Instead, please move to a place of safety. If the dog can't get out of the water by itself, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.'

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 142,700 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.