Redcar RNLI rescue dog from River Tees

The volunteer crew of the Redcar RNLI lifeboat were called out in failing light on Thursday 8 November 2018 to rescue a small dog that had fallen from the banks of the River Tees.

UK Coastguard requested the launch after the dog’s owner telephoned to say the pet had fallen from a path alongside the Tees, near a local landmark called Teesaurus Park in Middlesbrough.

Using searchlights the crew were able to spot the pet trapped amongst bramble bushes part-way down the river embankment.

Mike Picknett, helmsman of the Redcar lifeboat, said: ‘It was tricky spotting the dog. She was small and dark, and the light was fading fast.

‘We found her tangled in some brambles. She’d cut her paw, but apart from that she was OK.

‘Luckily her owner did the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard. We never encourage pet owners to try and carry out a rescue themselves.

‘So many times the pet is safe and the owner gets into difficulties.’

For more advice on what to do if your pet gets into difficulties in water, go to the RNLI website.