Weston RNLI crew rushes to save helpless dog cut off by tide

The helpless dog was rescued by Weston RNLI and brought back to shore. Picture: Weston RNLI (Image: Archant)

The Weston station was pages at 2.43pm yesterday (Saturday) because a passerby had the seen the small dog against the sea wall at Knightstone Island.

It was Saturday afternoon in Weston when the beach races were on and the seashore was packed. Weston Coastguard was also called out.

The tide was flooding and the dog could not get back to dry land - as the area was not accissible by land the lifeboat was launched.

This was to prevent anyone risking their own lives to save the stricken dog.

The D Class Lifeboat, Anna Stock, launched within a few minutes of the pagers sounding.

Soon after leaving the harbour the crew could see the dog up against the wall.

As soon as they were near, crewman David Ridout went into the water to try to reach the animal. He had to walk after the dog along the base of the wall but he caught up with it without difficulty.

The dog was put into the lifeboat, fussed over by the crew, and returned to the harbour.

As there was no sign of the owner, the dog – now known as Bella – was taken to the temporary lifeboat station where more fuss was made of it by the whole crew.

She proved quite a hit, but contact was made with the kennels who already knew about the missing dog.

She had got out when someone left the door open and the distraught owner had been looking for it for some time.

When she heard from the kennels she came over to the lifeboat station and was reunited with Bella.

Mike Buckland, lifeboat operations manager at Weston station, said: “We only go and rescue animals to save others putting themselves at risk.

“However it is very satisfying when we do save an animal.

“We always advise everyone to keep their dogs on a lead when near the sea but this little one had escaped so there was no blame on the owner.”