Dog fell 65ft off cliff and survived with just a broken leg

Dog fell 65ft off cliff and survived with just a broken leg
The RNLI were on hand to save Duke the Hungarian Vizsla on New Year’s Eve (Picture: RNLI / SWNS)
A dog survived with just a broken leg after plummeting from a 65ft cliff edge on New Year’s Eve . A dramatic rescue mission was launched when Duke the Hungarian Vizsla fell at Saltwick Nab on the east coast in North Yorkshire on December 31. The coastguard and the Whitby Royal National Lifeboat Institution came to save the terrified dog after his owner called for help. Footage shows them approaching Duke by sea, which was thought to be a better method than scaling the steep cliffs in slippy conditions.

In the video, the injured pup’s owner can be seen reassuring him, saying ‘it’s alright mate, good lad’.

Duke was loaded onto a boat and returned safely to Whitby lifeboat station.

His family were waiting to take him straight to the vet, where he was treated for a broken leg.

The Whitby RNLI station mechanic who attended the incident said: ‘Some people might find it strange that we rescue pets but due to the location of the incident it could have been dangerous for the owner to attempt carrying the dog himself.

The routine of caring for a pet can bring structure and purpose to daily life. Maybe you don’t always want to get out of bed, but your pet wants you to. Isn’t that a good thing?

‘The area is quite slippy and it would have been a long walk back due to the lack of access.

‘The size of the dog meant that taking the dog back up the cliff would have been difficult as well as distressing for the animal.

This is the dramatic video footage showing the rescue of a dog who had a lucky escape when it fell down a sheer 65ft drop - suffering just a broken leg. See SWNS story SWLEsaved; Duke the Hungarian vizsla dropped from the cliff edge at picturesque Saltwick Nab on the east coast in North Yorks., and was stranded on the beach below. His owner called the coastguard after the accident on December 31, who, along with Whitby RNLI, rescued the frightened pooch in a lifeboat and brought him to safety. It was decided that the best way to rescue him would be to approach by sea - rather than by scaling the steep cliffs in slippy and cold conditions. The RNLI volunteers took the dog's owner on their mission to help keep the dog calm. The owner and Duke were returned safely to Whitby lifeboat station where family were waiting to take the dog straight to the vets.
Duke’s owner came on the rescue mission to reassure him that all was well (Picture: RNLI / SWNS)
This is the dramatic video footage showing the rescue of a dog who had a lucky escape when it fell down a sheer 65ft drop - suffering just a broken leg. See SWNS story SWLEsaved; Duke the Hungarian vizsla dropped from the cliff edge at picturesque Saltwick Nab on the east coast in North Yorks., and was stranded on the beach below. His owner called the coastguard after the accident on December 31, who, along with Whitby RNLI, rescued the frightened pooch in a lifeboat and brought him to safety. It was decided that the best way to rescue him would be to approach by sea - rather than by scaling the steep cliffs in slippy and cold conditions. The RNLI volunteers took the dog's owner on their mission to help keep the dog calm. The owner and Duke were returned safely to Whitby lifeboat station where family were waiting to take the dog straight to the vets.
He was taken safely back to Whitby lifeboat station (Picture: RNLI / SWNS)

‘We’d much rather see an animal be rescued quickly and safely and no one else put in danger trying to rescue them.’

If you get into trouble on the coast, you can alert the RNLI by calling 999 or 112 and asking for the coastguard.

The RNLI says dogs should be kept on leads close to cliff edges or fast-flowing rivers to keep them safe.