It’s a cliffhanger as Hooch is rescued

AT midday on January 10 the Irish Coast Guard team at Howth was alerted by the Coast Guard operations centre to a dog trapped on sea cliffs at Balscadden on Howth Head.

‘Hooch’, a 12-year-old boxer, had fallen 15 metres into the water and then scrambled back up rocks where he was stuck on a ledge. 

Walkers and paddle-boarders, who heard him barking, alerted the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard Cliff Rescue team from Howth station training nearby was tasked, while paddle-boarders on the water assisted the team with the dog’s location. 

Due to the location it was safer to extract to the top than lower ‘Hooch’ to a boat.

A rescue climber was lowered and the unit’s animal rescue bag was deployed to bring the canine back to safety. 

The Coast Guard team then hauled the rescue climber and the dog back to safety. 

Spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard said: ‘Hooch’ was slightly shaken by the ordeal but otherwise in good spirits.

“We encourage dog owners not to attempt dangerous rescues but instead to call the Coast Guard at 112/999.”