Paws for thought next time: Moment when dog is saved from drowning by RNLI after being swept into the sea during fetch
A dog swept out to sea by powerful currents had to be rescued by the RNLI, a video shows.
Shaddah, a black labrador, was playing fetch with his owner on Seaton Sluice beach in Northumberland when the ball went into the water.
The dog had gone into the North Sea after the ball when he got into trouble by swimming too far out.
The RNLI Blyth Lifeboat team plucked Shaddah the black Labrador from the water after the alarm was raised by his concerned owner.
Footage from the D-class lifeboat shows rescuers rushing to reach Shaddah as he paddles desperately against the rising tide.
Shaddah, in the red circle, had run into trouble after swimming too far from shore. The RNLI Blyth team launched their D Class Lifeboat to go after the black Labrador
The RNLI crew saw Shaddah the Labrador struggling some 200 yards from the beach on March 11
RNLI Blyth volunteers launched the D-class inflatable lifeboat to reach the beloved pet, which was well out of its depth.
Lifeboat volunteers point out the struggling pet as they race to Shaddah.
The wet dog was hoisted onto the boat and dried off before being safely returned to its owner, who watched anxiously from shore.
Posting the video to the RNLI’s Facebook page, the marine charity said it was warning owners not to follow their pets into the sea.
“Shaddah isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, so when he ran into the sea to fetch a ball and then kept going, his owner was faced with a dilemma: try to save Shaddah or do something else?
The wet dog was dragged onto the boat and dried off before being returned safely to its owner, who called for the lifeboat
A volunteer lifeboat crew rushed to rescue the Labrador, led from shore by the Coast Guard at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland
The RNLI crew were able to return the wet dog to its owner as the Class D lifeboat returned to shore
“They called the RNLI. If you walk your dog close to cliffs or fast-flowing rivers, keep them on a leash.
“If they fall into the water or get stuck in the mud somewhere else, don’t go after them.
“Get somewhere safe for them to get to and call — they’ll probably work it out. If you’re concerned, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
The RNLI has released footage of the dramatic rescue in March 2021 as it launches a safety campaign targeting dog walkers.
It warns people not to go into the water after pets because they could also get into trouble, complicating RNLI rescues.