4:04PM, Wed Aug 22, 2012

Sunderland Lifeboat Called To Rescue Puppy By Seaham Pier

By Adrian Hogg Location: Sunderland

Sunderland lifeboat was scrambled for an unusual rescue - they were called out to help save a puppy which had fallen into the sea.

The RNLI volunteers were scrambled on the afternoon of Monday, August 6, after reports that a young dog was in the North Sea by Seaham North Pier.

When the inshore lifeboat MyJo arrived, the puppy had managed to make its way to the shore unaided, but Sunderland RNLI senior helmsman Paul Nicholson said the owners had done the right thing in calling them out.

"We were all very relieved to hear that the puppy had managed to make it safely back to the shore," he said. "On this occasion the adults who were with the dog correctly dialled 999 to contact the Coastguard rather than attempting to swim out to sea and rescue the dog themselves."