Exmouth's volunteer lifeguards were scrambled yesterday following a report of two dogs having fallen from cliffs at Orcombe Point in Exmouth. Members of Exmouth Beach Rescue Club received the alert from a member of the public who witnessed the incident near the Geo Needle at the top of the cliffs.
Two local kayakers were reported to be assisting in the rescue by bringing the dogs to a safe point on the shore.
The dogs owners, a couple from Willand near Cullompton, were walking along the cliffs with their two Lurcher type dogs when, without any warning, they disappeared over the edge and fell nearly one hundred feet to the beach below.
Exmouth Beach Rescue Club spokesman Nigel Snowshall said: "When our members arrived on scene, the owners, who had made their way down nearby steps onto the beach, were remarkably calm despite it being obvious that one of the dogs, Pixie a two year old, had a badly broken front leg.
"The tide was in therefore our Arancia Rescue Boat was called in to transport the injured dog along with the lady back to their car some way along Exmouth Beach.
"The second dog seemed to have escaped any major injury and was walked back over the cliffs to Exmouth by the Gentleman. The owners immediately took both dogs to their own vets for check-ups and treatment".
Mr Snowshall continued "This is the second incident of a dog falling from the cliffs at Orcombe Point in as many days. Yesterday Exmouth Coastguard dealt with another incident involving a Golden Retriever that fell at the same spot, we understand that dog was extremely lucky and escaped serious injury".
Mr Snowshall said: "I would appeal to all dog owners to keep their dogs on leads when walking them along the cliff path. Most of the area is not fenced with no warning or indication of where the edge is or of the drop below. If a dog decides to chase a bird or rabbit or even just wonder too close to the edge it can end in tragedy".
