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CLIFF RESCUE

Dog plunges over 515ft cliff & owner has to be rescued when he climbs after it

A DOG plunged over a 515ft cliff — and its owner had to be rescued when he climbed after it.

Laney, a whippet-American Bulldog cross, was being walked along a coastal path off her lead when she spotted an animal and gave chase.

Laney, a whippet-American Bulldog cross, after being rescued following cliff plunge
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Laney, a whippet-American Bulldog cross, after being rescued following cliff plungeCredit: BNPS
Where Laney fell and her owner Andrew Hetherington got stuck while attempting to rescue her
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Where Laney fell and her owner Andrew Hetherington got stuck while attempting to rescue herCredit: ©Graham Hunt

The four-year-old fell off a near-sheer drop, on to a ledge 150ft below.

Owner Andrew Hetherington walked 2.5 miles to get to the beach and started climbing to reach her but got stuck 30ft up.

A fire rescue crew went to him while a coastguard cliff team went over the edge to get to Laney, on Tuesday at Eype, Dorset.

Andrew, in his fifties, thanked them, saying: “Seeing Laney go off the cliff was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Terry Hoare, of Beer Coastguard, said Laney was 'very lucky' to survive the sheer drop.

He said: "Laney was off her lead and must have seen something and chased after it over the cliff edge.

"It is a 150ft near-enough sheer drop to the plateau where she landed so she was very lucky to survive.

A Lyme Regis Coastguard spokesperson said: "We urge people to keep their dogs on a lead when walking on the coast path.

"They should also not be tempted to try and rescue the pet themselves."

Rescuers said Laney was 'very lucky' to survive the drop
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Rescuers said Laney was 'very lucky' to survive the dropCredit: BNPS
Dramatic dog rescue after cliff fall
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