Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescues boxer dog after fall from South Bull Wall

Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescued Sadie, a boxer dog who had fallen more than 3m below the pier walkway close to the Half Moon swimming area on the South Bull Wall at Dublin Port yesterday while walking with her owner.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat shortly before 10am by the Irish Coast Guard.

Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard was also tasked but the 3m climb down to retrieve the dog was not possible for the shore crew.

The crew launched the lifeboat at 9.58am and arrived at the scene within 12 minutes.

Weather conditions at the time were calm, however with the tide out, exposed, slippery and jagged rocks running along the Bull Wall meant Sadie was in a precarious position.

Once on scene, the crew calmly approached Sadie and brought her onboard the lifeboat where she was found to be shaken but safe and well, however sporting some minor cuts on her paws from the fall.

The lifeboat then safely returned Sadie to her owner at the slipway a short distance down the wall.

Speaking following the call out, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Helm Nathan Burke said: “We were delighted to be able to reunite Sadie with her owner following her ordeal today and wish her a speedy recovery. The owner did the right thing raising the alarm when she was in difficulty rather than entering the water themselves.

“We would encourage pet owners to keep their pets on a lead when walking near the water’s edge, close cliff edges or fast flowing waters.

“If your pet does enter the water, don’t go in after them. If worried, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”