Published: December 10, 2012
Burnham-On-Sea family thanks Coastguards after dog rescue drama

A Burnham-On-Sea family has thanked Coastguards for rescuing their two dogs following a four-hour night-time search on Brean Down.

A team of Burnham Coastguards was called to Brean when the two Beagles went missing during a walk on the beach.

The dogs ran up the steep south side of the Down after a goat, and Coastguards were concerned that the owners might put themselves in danger by seeking the animals in the darkness.

A four-hour search operation followed, which culminated with two Coastguard climbers being sent down the side of the Down to successfully retrieve the animals, called Tucker and Ellie, with the assistance of two Weston lifeboats.

One of the beagles, Ellie, suffered a damaged foot and was transferred to the vets for treatment but both are now back at home in Burnham where they are receiving plenty of attention from their relieved family, pictured above.

"We are incredibly grateful for all the superb help of the Coastguards and lifeboat crews who spared no effort in ensuring Ellie and Tucker were returned to us," the family's dog owners, Lee Parish and Dee, Tony and Paige, told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"The dogs were being walked along the beach at around 4pm when they ran off up the side of the Down after a goat. They went higher and higher and we tried to encourage them over to the steps but they disappeared from view."

"We called the Coastguards at 5.50pm and they were very quickly on scene. We gave them a full update on what had happened and they carried out a torch-lit search of the beach and then went up on top of the Down."

"Using the torches, they spotted Tucker on the cliffs and sent two climbers down to reach him while the lifeboat crews later spotted Ellie in a cave with the sea fast incoming around her."

"We've had both dogs since they were puppies - they mean the world to us. They are very much a part of our family, so we are truly grateful for the help in reaching them. The commitment and support from the crews was just superb."

Burnham Coastguard Officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The owners were very grateful and we were happy to help, as were the Weston lifeboat crews who were on an exercise in the area at the time. There was concern that the family might have put themselves in danger by seeking the dogs in the darkness."