Heroic Rescue On Tennyson Downs Saves Dog After Cliff Fall

Wednesday morning (October 9) saw a local resident’s dog was rescued after a fall from the cliffs at Tennyson Downs in Freshwater Bay.

The incident unfolded at around 11am when the resident, who was walking his dog “Ted” with a friend, realised Ted had wandered off, despite being a well-behaved dog normally kept far from danger

After a 30-minute search, fellow walkers reported seeing the dog near the cliff edge, sparking immediate concern.

In a moment of desperation, the owner contacted the Coastguard, though no assets were immediately available.

He then reached out to Freshwater Independent Lifeboat (FILB), where Martin Newham initiated an urgent response.

At approximately 1.10pm, FILB launched a crew, led by Helm Ronan McCann, despite challenging conditions with a large swell.

Coastguard teams arrived shortly after, preparing to abseil down the cliffs if necessary.

However, FILB crew member James Metcalfe courageously entered the water and made his way ashore, successfully retrieving Ted from the base of the cliff.

He was supported by Luke Stagg and Helm Ronan McCann in the rescue.

The dog was safely returned to land at around 2.30pm by the FILB team.

Ted was taken to the vet for overnight observation but is reportedly in good health, an incredible outcome after such a dangerous fall.

The local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed deep gratitude to both FILB and the Coastguard for their quick and courageous response.

We want to thank the local community for their continued support and remind dog owners to take extra care when walking near cliff edges.

This story serves as a reminder of the importance of our life-saving teams and the incredible work they do.