Minehead: Dog Rescue After 10 Days

1 September 2014, 12:53 | Updated: 1 September 2014, 13:28

An eagle-eyed RNLI crew from Minehead has rescued a missing dog from rocks at the foot of England's highest sea cliffs.

Nine-year-old Sprig the springer spaniel was spotted on a ledge near Foreland Point in North Devon on Sunday (31st August), after going missing 10 days earlier. 

The crew on the D-Class boat had taken the vessel closer to land, after noticing a sheep that was apparently trapped, which turned out to be Sprig. 

Helmsman Andrew Escott, who jumped ashore and clambered up the rocks, said: ''It was about 30 feet above the water and we couldn't work out how it had got in that position."

"He had clearly been there for some time because he was licking water off my dry suit. And he did seem rather pleased to see us.''

Once he was returned to the RNLI station, he was given food and water. 

But it only emerged later that the dog's owners, Mark and Susie Sanders from Wheddon Cross near Minehead, had carried out a major search for him.

As well organising search parties, they had plastered the area with posters appealing for any sightings while local fishing boats and an animal ambulance team from North Devon had checked along the shoreline. 

Mrs Sanders said: ''We were coming to the conclusion that he must have wandered off and then been stolen. 

''I just could not believe it when we had a call to say the lifeboat crew had spotted him and rescued him. It's amazing - the best news ever. Bless them.''

See the rescue below: