Baltimore RNLI rescues Dixie the dog after fall from cliff at the Beacon

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard just before 10am this morning after the owner raised the alarm.

On his first call out since being passed out as a new helm for the station, David Ryan launched the Atlantic 85 class lifeboat assisted by the shore crew and with crew members Jerry Smith, Kieran Collins and Eoin O’Driscoll onboard.

Weather conditions at the time were good with a force 2-3 wind, a calm sea with up to a half metre swell and good visibility.

Arriving on scene, the crew observed Dixie sheltering and waiting under a rock ledge after she managed to swim ashore.

Crew members Kieran and Eoin entered the sea and retrieved the dog bringing her safely back onto the lifeboat and back to shore to her relieved owner.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Dixie wasn’t far up the cliff when she fell into an area of the sea which is inaccessible from the shore so her owner did the right thing in raising the alarm. While shaken and cold, Dixie is otherwise safe and well and everyone is delighted for her and her relived owner. We want to commend all our crew involved and congratulate David on his first call out as helm, I am sure it is one he won’t forget.

‘We would remind anyone planning a walk near the coast with their dog to keep themselves safe when they walk with them. If your dog does go into the water or gets stuck in mud, don’t go in after them. Instead, move to a place where you can get to safely and call the dog as they may be able to get out themselves. If not and you are worried, call 999 or 112 as this owner rightly did and ask for the Coast Guard.’

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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 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.

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