Relief as lifeboat crew rescues dog after cliff fall
A LERWICK dog owner was reunited with his beloved Border collie after members of Lerwick Lifeboat recovered the animal from the foot of 30 feet high cliffs at the town’s Ness of Sound.
Socks disappeared earlier on Saturday while out for a walk with his owner Jay McGill.
After searching for his dog all afternoon McGill finally located the 11-year-old animal at the foot of the cliff, and contacted Shetland Coastguard.
The Lerwick lifeboat launched at around 6.30pm and arrived at the scene within five minutes.
Given Socks’ location near the waterline, a decision was made to deploy the inflatable Y-boat and two lifeboat crew were soon able recover Socks to the lifeboat.
Socks was described as a little subdued but without significant injury. He was reunited with his owner once the lifeboat had returned to base at Lerwick harbour.
Relief coxswain Darren Harcus said: “We’re pleased to have been able to help with Socks’ rescue and to see him handed safely back to his owner.
“They did exactly the right thing by contacting the coastguard when they realised that their dog was in difficulty, without putting themselves in any further danger. We hope Socks recovers from the experience soon.”
Meanwhile, the coastguard search and rescue helicopter was tasked to transfer a patient from Mid Yell to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick on Saturday night.
The helicopter landed at the Clickimin landing site at around 10.30pm.
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