Dog Rescued from Cliff at Kelsey Head After Multi-Agency Operation

A dog walk on the coast path took a frightening turn yesterday afternoon when a pet went over the cliff at Kelsey Head, prompting a major rescue involving four emergency teams.

What Happened

At 12:14pm on Thursday 28th May, Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team, St Agnes Coastguard Search & Rescue Team, Newquay RNLI Lifeboats and Holywell Bay Lifeguards were all tasked to reports of a dog over the cliff at Kelsey Head, near Holywell Bay.

Once the dog was located, the lifeboat stood by offshore while a technical rope rescue was rigged at the top of the cliff. A technician was lowered down to reach the animal.

Reunited With Owner

The dog was injured but was successfully brought back up to the clifftop and reunited with its owner. The coastguard team then assisted the owner back to their vehicle so they could get the dog to a vet.

Newquay Coastguard wished the dog a swift recovery.

A Reminder For Coast Path Walkers

The team used the incident to remind dog owners to keep their pets on a lead while walking the coast path, regardless of how well behaved they normally are.

Training That Same Evening

Later the same day, at 6:30pm, the Newquay team headed to the Gazzle for their weekly training session, where they practiced their rope rescue skills with a full time coastguard officer.

If you see someone in difficulty along the coast, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.