Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles and Ventnor are working to rescue a dog that has gone over the cliff edge at Freshwater this morning (Friday).
The incident has occurred to the east of Freshwater Bay off Military Road.
Officers have lowered a cliff man over the edge in a bid to locate and rescue man’s best friend.
The incident began sometime before 08:50.
UPDATE @ 09:51 – It’s understood that the dog has sadly died as a result of the fall.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard has said:
“Just before 8.15am today (5 March) HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a concerned member of the public with a report of a dog over the cliff at Freshwater Bay.
“Needles and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams have been sent to locate the dog and recover it to a place of safety so members of the public do not put themselves at risk.
Article continues below this advertisement “The incident is ongoing and we have not further information at this time”.
UPDATE – Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team has confirmed that the dog did not survive the fall. The animal was recovered to the top of the cliff.
The incident happened when the dog started to chase a bird.
Coastguards are reminding dog walkers to ensure dogs are kept on leads near cliff edges.
That’s so sad. Poor dog.. thoughts are with the owner. Well done to the team for there help in the situation
I have seen so many Dogs off their leads at Compton Bay, and how the poor dogs have not fallen off the edge is a miracle.
Owners need to be more responsible with their Pets.
Please keep your best friend on a lead near to cliff edges and any other danger.
Why would anyone want to walk a dog near a cliff hedge without a lead?, many animals are living at risk because of bad owners.
Too many idiots allowed to own pets, the law should do something about this problem, I’m sure the RSPCA would have something to say about this..
In the past I have seen many dogs nearly fall off the Cliffs at Compton Bay,
Owners let their Dogs out of their vehicles and don’t keep their eyes on them.
You wouldn’t let your child run around on a cliff edge so why let your dog do it?
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
Agree with comments dogs on leads near cliffs. For all we know the dog, just may have slipped it’s collar. Thoughts with the owner what ever.
I have seen so many idiots with Dogs off their leads at Compton Bay, and how the poor dogs have not fallen off the edge is a miracle.
Owners need to be more responsible with their Pets.
As a dog owner you have got to be extra careful when walking your dogs near cliff edges
Feel so sorry for the owners. I would never let my dog off anywhere like that but I’m sure the owners realise that now and are feeling awful. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Dog owners please learn from this and never let your fog off unless it’s safe to do so.
What a lot of people are forgetting is how far and fast a dog can run when casing something. The owner may not have considered themselves to be close to the cliff. Would you consider that you’re walking close to the cliff if you were walking along Culver Down Road. I bet not (if you were to answer truthfully). But from this road a dog at full speed could get to the edge in moments.
It’s a tragic accident, please don’t blame the owner. That is heartless, somethings keep to yourself.
What a lot of people are forgetting is the you can’t spell chasing, also if your dog could run fast, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to put a lead on your dog, that actually makes it more important to put a lead on your dog
Why not blame the owner they know they are in an area with a cliff edge. Take responsibility.
How many more times is this going to happen? No dog can be trusted off lead, no matter what confidence the owners have in control of it.
Terribly terribly sad and upsetting. Poor dog and poor owner.
The thing is dogs only see the horizon, they don’t realise there is a cliff edge so they keep running. PLEASE dog owners don’t let your dogs off the lead unless you are at ground level. Well done rescue team, it must have been awful for them too.
My thoughts are with the owner, they must be devastated, they can not go back and change what happened, only learn from this terrible set of events.
Please do not attack the person/people who were with this poor animal, I cannot imagine their sorrow.
RIP LITTLE ONE.
Because of people’s stupidity, the rescue team have to put their lives at risk dangling from a rope 100s of feet up a cliff face.
I bet these bloody dog owners wouldnt have the courage to do that, but it’s ok to expect others to on your behalf?