A dog has been rescued from the River Tweed by Berwick Coastguard, leading to an emotional reunion with its owner. The incident, reported just after 4:30 pm on Tuesday, July 7, prompted a major emergency response involving multiple agencies.
Emergency Services Respond to River Rescue
Upon receiving reports of a dog in distress and a person attempting to rescue it, the coastguard, RNLI, and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene. The coastguard team coordinated with other services to first recover two people from the riverbank. The dog was then taken from the water and placed onto a lifeboat, which transported it back to the dock for a reunion with its grateful owner.
Concerns Over a Third Person Spark Large-Scale Search
During a conversation with the dog owner after the rescue, the coastguard learned that a third person may have tried to rescue the dog before emergency services arrived. This raised concerns, as the safety of that individual could not be confirmed. In response, a multi-agency search was launched, involving approximately 40 personnel from Northumbria Police, North East Ambulance Service, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Eyemouth Coastguard, Berwick Coastguard, and both RNLI Berwick upon Tweed lifeboats.
CCTV Confirms No One Else Entered the Water
Following thorough searches, police reviewed CCTV footage and confirmed that no other person had entered the water. The search operation was subsequently terminated. A Coastguard Rescue Officer managed the entire incident, coordinating with partner services to bring it to a safe conclusion.
In a social media statement, Berwick Coastguard said: "Berwick Coastguard was tasked this afternoon after the Fire Service received reports of a dog in the River Tweed and 1 Person attempting to rescue. Arriving on scene, we liaised with the Fire Service and the RNLI. 2 people were recovered from the riverbank and the dog was taken on board the lifeboat and transferred to the dock to be reunited with a grateful owner. In conversation with the dogs owner, it transpired that a 3rd person may have tried to rescue the dog before our arrival, and no one could account for the safety of that person. A multi agency search was conducted, involving approximately 40 people from Northumbria Police, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Eyemouth Coastguard, Berwick Coastguard and both boats from RNLI Berwick upon Tweed Lifeboats. After thorough searches, Police were able to confirm using CCTV that no one else had entered the water, and searches were terminated. This multi agency incident was managed by one of our CROs, who coordinated with partner services to bring the incident to a safe and successful conclusion."
