Dog survives after 80ft fall down cliff

Jul 21 2008 by The Journal

A DOG had a miraculous escape after falling 80 feet down a cliff.

Police, firefighters and the coastguard were all involved in a rescue operation after six-year-old German Shepherd husky cross Kiko fell from a clifftop at Pierfields in Berwick on Saturday morning.

The dog was one of two being walked by holidaymaker Constance Laidlaw, when it lost its footing and fell down the cliff, landing on rocks below.

Paramedics were also dispatched after it was initially feared Mrs Laidlaw had become stuck trying to rescue her dog and had injured herself.

But these fears were unfounded with the woman having followed a path down onto the beach to get to her pet.

Kiko was unable to move after the fall and is thought to have fractured his pelvis.

Mrs Laidlaw, 58, of Cheltenham in Gloucstershire, last night said her beloved pet was fortunate to have survived.

The University of Gloucester administrator said: “I think he was very lucky indeed. It is obviously going to be several weeks’ recuperation and recovery.”

Mrs Laidlaw, who is staying at a family home in Low Greens, Berwick, with her brother, was walking Kiko and two-year-old German Shepherd Tia after 7am on Saturday, on a path beside Magdalene Fields Golf Course and the coastguard station.

The dogs were off their leads and both ran out of her view under railings, possibly in pursuit of a rabbit.

Kiko lost his footing and fell, clawing onto the cliffside for the first 65 feet before dropping the last 15 feet onto rocks.

Mrs Laidlaw looked over the edge of the cliff to see her dog whining and made her way along the clifftop to a path leading down onto the rocks. When she reached Kiko, the dog was unable to move and was bloodied and bruised, having suffered a suspected fractured pelvis.

Mrs Laidlaw rang police who alerted other emergency services. Two fire crews from Berwick arrived, as did paramedics, the coastguard and a vet from the town’s Renton Swan surgery.

The dog was given a painkilling injection by the vet which allowed firefighters to use a tarpaulin to carry him to a coastguard vehicle. He was then taken to the vet’s surgery and is due to be moved to a specialist clinic at Blyth today where he will be assessed before possibly undergoing an operation.

Mrs Laidlaw, who had been due to return south yesterday after a week’s stay, is to remain in Berwick for the coming weeks to visit her dog while he recuperates. She paid tribute to those who helped, saying: “I thought all the rescue services were wonderful, I was really very grateful for the support and assistance because they were all very good.”