Coastguard search for missing dog called off after Brean cliff plunge

Published: March 28, 2010
Coastguard search for missing dog called off after Brean cliff plunge

An extensive Coastguard search for a missing dog that plunged over cliffs at Brean Down on Sunday afternoon (March 28th) was called off after a four hour operation.

A team of Burnham Coastguards was called to Brean at 4pm after dog owners Lorraine and Jonathan Hawkins from Bath reported Daisy, their greyhound cross whippet, had disappeared over the edge of the cliffs near the wartime fort.

Coastguards searched a large area of the southern side of the Down and a Burnham lifeboat was also sent to the scene to help scour the cliffs and shoreline - but no sign of the seven-year-old pet was found.

Distraught Mrs Hawkins (pictured right) told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Our three dogs were enjoying a run about on the Down when they disappeared out of sight for just a few moments."

"We called for them to return and two came back, but Daisy, our greyhound cross whippett, didn't."

"We haven't seen her since and are very worried. The Coastguard and lifeboat crews did a wonderful job searching for her and we still have some hopes that she may be alive. If anyone has seen her, I would urge them to get in touch."

The seven year-old dog (pictured right) is described as being mainly white in colour with brown patches.

Coastguard Station Officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We were disappointed not to have found her - but we did everything we could within reason."

"The owners were obviously very upset, and could have placed themselves at extreme risk in attempting a rescue."

"An extensive search of the Down was carried out, but with today's very high Spring tide there were parts of the cliffs that could not be easily reached."

There was at one time a possible sighting, but a Coastguard team member abseiled down the cliff face, in failing light, to find the spotted item was a polythene bag.

Nothing being found by either search party and at 7.45pm, both RNLI and Coastguard were stood down and returned to their individual stations at Burnham.