Porthcawl RNLI’s volunteer crew were preparing to launch for their Sunday morning training exercise when the crew were alerted by members of the public that Winni, a cockapoo dog had fallen from the eastern arm onto the boulders below (near the green pole).
The launch authority contacted UK Coastguard on 999 to request the assistance of Coastguard rescue teams. The charity’s D Class lifeboat, D861 Hugo Missen was launched and proceeded the short distance to the scene. With the tide falling the crew beached the lifeboat close to the sea defence boulders.
The D Class crew made their way up onto the boulders where the dog was located in an to attempt to rescue the dog, however the dog was quite shaken and difficult to get hold of. Due to the slippery nature of the boulders the dog slipped down a small gap between the boulders and it became impossible to reach it.
As Coastguard Rescue teams from Porthcawl Coastguard, Llantwit Major Coastguard and Port Talbot Coastguard arrived on scene a request for further assistance was made to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in order to extract the dog from where it was trapped amongst the boulders. A South Wales Police dog handler was also requested to attend to assist.
Once the fire and rescue service arrived firefighters used specialist equipment to move a boulder and widen the gap the dog had fallen down. This allowed the police dog handler to reach the dog and retrieve it from where it had been trapped. This incident was an example of great teamwork from all the emergency services involved.
We heard from the the dogs owner later that day to update us that the dog has been scanned by a vet and there was no evidence of any injuries sustained. We wish Winni 🐶 a speedy recovery following her ordeal.

To support Porthcawl RNLI volunteer crew: Porthcawl RNLI Lifesavers Fund