A dog who became stuck on a cliff ledge while out on a walk was coaxed down to safety - with a pocketful of treats.
Coco the spaniel had become trapped in undergrowth after falling down the cliff below the Walton Park Hotel in Clevedon at around 11am yesterday (April 8).
Clevedon Coastguard Rescue Team raced to the rescue, deploying a rope technician to make their way down the cliff to assess Coco’s location and condition.
Crews decided the safest way to recover Coco was via a rope rescue, and called on Weston-super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team for help.
While waiting for support, crew members - with the aid of dog treats provided by the owner - were on the foreshore, managing to encourage Coco to make her way down to them.
A spokesman for Clevedon Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Initial assessment suggested that the safest way to recover Coco was via a rope rescue.
“In the meantime, the team at the bottom of the cliff, with the aid of some dog treats provided by the owner, encouraged Coco to make her own way to them.
“Once she was safely in the care of the team, we stood down the Weston Team and made our way back to a safe ascent point and reunited Coco with her relieved owner.”
Coastguards are now warning people to be cautious when out walking dogs near cliff edges and not to attempt a dangerous rescue themselves.
The spokesman added: “Please take care of your animals when walking close to cliff edges.
“While the cliff path looks safe, the steep slopes, and the speed a dog moves can make it a dangerous place for a dog off its lead.
“We also remind anyone that self-rescuing your dog is extremely dangerous and could end up with even worse consequences, please don't put yourself or your furry loved ones at risk.
“We are trained to deal with these situations safely, we don't want anyone to end up injured or worse trying to scale down cliffs to rescue their dog.
“If the worst does happen, do what Coco's owner did and immediately dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”
