Cockapoo Luna Rescued After 500ft Cliff Fall in Dramatic Two-Day Operation
A cockapoo named Luna has been safely reunited with her owner after a dramatic two-day rescue mission involving over 40 emergency personnel. The pet fell approximately 160 feet down a 500-foot cliff at Thorncombe Beacon on Dorset's Jurassic Coast, triggering an extensive operation that required a coordinated pincer movement on the treacherous cliff face.
The Perilous Cliff Fall and Initial Rescue Attempt
The incident began just before 5pm on Thursday when Luna fell from the cliff between Eype and Seatown in Dorset. Fortunately, she landed on a ledge about 160 feet down, but the rescue operation faced immediate challenges. The frightened dog repeatedly ran away from her rescuers along the narrow ledge, making initial attempts to reach her extremely difficult.
Coastguard teams from Beer, West Bay and Lyme Regis responded to the emergency, but as darkness fell and weather conditions deteriorated, they were forced to abandon the rescue attempt on the first day. A coastguard spokesman explained: "Numerous things were tried to get her to come back, but with the weather deteriorating and conditions at clifftop getting worse, late into the evening the decision was made to abandon the attempt."
The Complex Second-Day Rescue Operation
Three coastguard teams returned to the scene on Friday morning, joined by two fire and rescue crews who provided additional rope rescue expertise. The operation involved what rescuers described as a "coordinated pincer movement" on the cliff face.
A spokesman for Bridport Fire Station detailed the strategy: "Two rope rescue teams were deployed over the cliff on either side of the dog's location, creating a coordinated pincer movement to safely secure the animal." This approach proved necessary as Luna continued to move along the ledge away from rescuers.
Successful Recovery and Safety Warning
After persistent efforts, a rope technician from West Bay Coastguard successfully coaxed Luna into an animal rescue bag. The dog was then winched safely to the clifftop where she was reunited with her relieved owners. Remarkably, Luna emerged from the ordeal without any obvious injuries.
The rescue operation spanned over 11 hours across two days and involved more than 40 emergency personnel. Following the successful recovery, coastguard officials issued a strong safety warning to dog owners. A spokesman for Beer Coastguard emphasized: "Please keep your dogs on a lead when near the cliff edge. This rescue took over 11 hours in total with over 40 people involved over the two days."
Multi-Agency Collaboration Praised
Emergency services highlighted the exceptional collaboration between different agencies during the challenging rescue. The spokesman added: "This was an excellent example of multi-agency collaboration with rescue services working together seamlessly." The operation demonstrated how coastguard and fire service teams can coordinate effectively in difficult terrain and conditions.
The dramatic rescue serves as both a heartwarming story of a pet's survival and a serious reminder of the dangers posed by coastal cliffs to both humans and animals. Luna's fortunate landing on a ledge rather than falling the full 500 feet likely saved her life, but the extensive rescue operation underscores the risks and resources involved in such incidents.
