Charlie, a cockapoo, experienced a dramatic rescue after falling approximately 170 feet down a cliff face in Sandy Bay on the South Devon coast. The incident occurred on Monday when the dog slipped its collar while on a walk with its owners, chased a bird, and fell over the precipice.
Charlie's fall was broken by a small rocky outcrop about 80 feet from the top of the cliff. Coastguards from Exmouth and Beer responded to the emergency. A winchman was lowered to the dog using a specialized rescue bag, and Charlie was safely hoisted back up to his owners.
Remarkably, Charlie was unharmed by the ordeal. Terry Hoare, from Beer Coastguard, noted that the dog's relaxed state during the fall likely contributed to his survival, as he did not realize the danger he was in.
"Had he been a human they would have broken every bone in their body but the dog didn't realise what was happening to him and was all loose which helped him," Hoare said.
Coastguard teams established a technical rope rescue system to reach Charlie. He was reunited with his relieved owners, who were on holiday in the area.
This incident brings to mind a similar tragedy that occurred three years prior at Littleham Cove, further along the coast. Dog walker Thomas Aldwinckle fell to his death from a cliff while attempting to rescue his springer spaniel, Mac, who was stranded on a ledge. Aldwinckle's body was found at the bottom of the cliffs, while his dog was discovered on a ledge above.