The owner of a dog who fell 20 metres down cliffs near Stonehaven on Sunday night has paid tribute to the emergency services who rescued her beloved pet.
Claire McGregor, from Aberdeen, was walking her beagle Bailey along the Dunnottar cliffs when he suddenly disappeared off the edge.
Claire recalled: “I was on my way back to the car when Bailey stopped on a ledge to smell something.
“I shouted to him to come and started walking. He normally follows but as I took my first step I heard him howl. I turned back and he was gone.
“He continued to howl and as I looked I realised he had fallen from the edge.
“I was trying desperately to find a way to see him but could only hear his howls.
“I stepped back and called my parents and then 101. I was distraught and in a panic as the howling became less.”
The police called for assistance of the Coastguard who contacted the RNLI to launch Stonehaven lifeboat.
Meanwhile, Claire’s parents arrived with a rope prepared to abseil down the cliffs.
She continued: “By this point I feared the worst and all I could do was run through what had happened again and again. I was in shock shaking and panicking.
“The police sent me away with my mum while my dad stayed to help and as we walked along the cliffs heading back to Dunnotar the lifeboat had appeared.
“It edged in to the crevice slowly avoiding the rocks a few minutes later it reappeared.
“I collapsed at that point, I thought ‘this is it my boy has gone’.
“However, then my dad called my mum. She turned and looked at me and said Bailey’s alive and on the boat.
“When we got to Stonehaven Harbour, Bailey was standing there wagging his tail being looked after by all the remarkable people who work at RLNI Stonehaven.”
A visit to the vet established that Bailey was absolutely fine other than a couple of broken nails and suffering shock.
Claire said she certainly won’t be taking Bailey along the cliffs again but wanted to publicly thank the efforts of the emergency services.
She said: “This dog is part of my family…thanks goodness for all of the support and efforts made by these wonderful people.
“They have restored my faith in the world, ensuring that I know there are still extraordinary people out there who are selfless and courageous.
“Please give and support these astonishing people who go into dangerous situations all the time to save loved ones.”
