Dog rescued from cliff edge in 11-hour mission that included 40 people

She had fallen 160ft down the cliff and landed on a ledge.

The dog had initially run away from her owners and had been rescued. She ended up on a ledge between Eype and Seatown in Dorset.

Coastguard teams were called, but had to abandon the rescue mission on the first day after the weather deteriorated and it became dark.

Returning the next day, three coastguard teams from Beer, West Bay and Lyme Regis attempted to rescue the pooch again, along with two fire crews.

Beer Coastguard told pet owners to keep their furry friends on a lead near the cliff’s edge, saying: “This rescue took over 11 hours in total with over 40 people involved over the two days”.

Luna first disappeared over the clifftop just before 5pm on Thursday.

A rope technician was edged down to the cockapoo’s position, but she scampered away along the ledge, making her unreachable.

Undeterred, rescue teams returned to the site on Friday just after 10:30am, to attempt to rescue Luna again.

Coordinating a “pincer movement” with rope rescue teams deployed on either the cockapoo, rescuers managed to retrieve her unharmed.

Writing on Facebook, Beer Coastguard said: “The persistence of the Coastguard rope technician paid off and after a while she was tempted into and secured in our animal rescue bag and brought safely to the clifftop and handed back to the owners.”

In the post they also included pictures of Luna, calling her “lucky”.

A spokesman for Beer Coastguard said: “Numerous things were tried to get her to come back, but with the weather deteriorating and conditions at clifftop getting worse, late into the evening, the decision was made to abandon the attempt with the intention to return in daylight if Luna could be seen or heard.

“Beer, West Bay and Lyme teams returned to the scene with additional assistance from fire and rescue rope team.”

A spokesman for Bridport Fire Station said: “Two rope rescue teams were deployed to safely secure the animal.”

They confirmed Luna was returned to safety with “no obvious injuries”.

Thorncombe Beacon route is known for its steep ascents and descents, with rugged cliffs that are continually reshaped by coastal erosion, making the terrain particularly demanding in places.

The area is popular with walkers but can be hazardous, especially where cliff falls and landslips have occurred.

Visitors are advised to follow waymarked paths and any diversion signs, as conditions can change quickly along this exposed section of coastline.

Doghouse Hill, which overlooks the route, is believed to be West Dorset’s oldest known site of human settlement, chosen for its commanding views across the coastline.

Nearby, Thorncombe Beacon once formed part of a chain of warning beacons lit in 1588 to signal the approach of the Spanish Armada and remains a prominent viewpoint today.

The coastline has long been associated with maritime activity, both legitimate and illicit.

In the 19th century, the area around Seatown was a hotspot for smuggling, with the village pub known to be frequented by members of the notorious Chideock Gang.

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