Coast Guard aircrew rescues dog that fell over 300-foot cliff
A lucky German shepherd was airlifted to safety by the Coast Guard Wednesday after tumbling over a 300-foot cliff — equivalent to the height of the Statue of Liberty — onto the rocky shores of an Oregon beach.
The herding dog had been walking along a trail in Ecola State Park with her owner around 7 p.m. when she fell down the cliff onto a remote stretch of Cannon Beach.
“This part of the beach is only accessible by repelling down from a hiking trail,” the Coast Guard Air Station Astoria said.
A German shepherd fell over a 300-foot cliff onto a rocky and remote section of Cannon Beach. USCGPacificNorthwest, /Twitter
Bodycam footage of the rescue showed the injured dog helplessly sitting on the rocky shore as a harsh wave crashes over her.
The limping pooch struggles to find higher ground but is left with only a few feet of dry land.
The dramatic video shows a rescuer being lowered from the MH-60 Jayhawk and swimming onto the beach toward the dog before bringing her safely into the litter to be lifted to safety.
A Coast Guard rescuer swam to shore to airlift the injured dog to safety. USCGPacificNorthwest, /Twitter
The German shepherd and her rescuer shared the litter back into the helicopter. Credit: USCGPacificNorthwest, /Twitter
The grateful animal lowered her head onto her hero’s shoulder as the two were pulled back into the aircraft, the video shows.
The German shepherd was reunited with her owner within 90 minutes of her fall and rushed to the emergency vet.
Despite suffering a fall equivalent to the height of the Statue of Liberty, the dog is in great shape and is expected to overcome her injuries, the military reported.
Source: New York Post
