Swanage Coastguard aids Tilly after 120ft fall — Swanage Dog Cliff Rescue

The swanage dog cliff rescue ended with Tilly alive after a 120ft fall from a cliff near Peveril Point in Dorset on Sunday evening. Swanage Coastguard and St Albans Coastguard Rescue Team were called at about 18:00 GMT, then searched the area when they did not have an exact location for the dog.

Peveril Point search

A member of the public flying a drone nearby helped locate Tilly. The coastguard team then found the owner and dog after they had been walking along the beach, and safely assisted both back up the cliff.

Tilly and the cliff edge

Swanage Coastguard said Tilly fell approximately 120 feet, or 37m, and escaped without injury. The same statement said the owners had been through a frightening experience and used the rescue to remind people to keep dogs on leads near cliff edges.

“Dogs are easily distracted by sounds and smells on a coastal walk and often they run off to chase a bird or animal not knowing they are near the edge of a cliff.” Swanage Coastguard said. It added: “It’s safer to keep your dog on a lead when out walking along the cliff, especially if you don’t know the area or are visiting.”

Swanage Coastguard warning

The key operational detail for dog walkers is simple: the rescue began without a precise location, and a drone helped narrow the search fast enough to find Tilly and the owner on the same evening. The coastguard response ended with both being brought back up the cliff safely after the fall near Peveril Point.