Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI)
For those unfamiliar with the RNLI, here are the details.
Founded in 1824, the RNLI is an amazing, publicly funded UK charity that is dedicated to saving lives at sea. The lifeboats are almost exclusively manned by volunteers who risk their own lives to save total strangers and animals from certain death. With much safer, specially designed boats these days, these volunteers can do this and survive themselves; however, over the years hundreds of lifeboat men have perished. There are some 600 names on the RLNI memorial at the RLNI HQ Poole, Dorset, England. Having lived in Cornwall for twenty years, I was there in 1981 when one of the last older lifeboats was lost. The Penlee lifeboat station near Penzance was the home of the lifeboat named The Solomon Browne; it was lost with its entire crew of eight as they attempted what was an impossible rescue in the worst conditions imaginable. The waves were 60 feet high, and the wind was hurricane force.
“The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, or am ever likely to see, was the penultimate act of courage by the Penlee (crew)…..They were truly the bravest eight men that I have ever seen.”
It Cdr Smith US Navy
Helicopter pilot on secondment
Bailey is a much-loved black Labrador who was enjoying a coastal walk with her owner, Chris Carter, when she was startled by another dog, slipped her lead, and lost her footing. This resulted in her falling 60 feet down to the sea below. It appears that, miraculously, she missed landing on the rocks below and was able to scramble onto a large rock, thus ensuring her immediate survival. Unfortunately, with the waves becoming increasingly powerful, Bailey’s tenure on life was becoming tenuous to the extreme, as there appeared to be no escape.
Chris called the coastguard, who attempted a rescue from the top of the cliff. This route was deemed impossible as the unstable nature of the terrain and the inward slope made it too dangerous even for trained responders. The only option available was the volunteers of the RNLI.
The crew launched their inshore lifeboat and, despite the sea becoming increasingly dangerous, headed for the scene. Having arrived within minutes, the three-man crew became increasingly aware that they were in danger of being tossed onto the rocks themselves and with so many rocks between themselves and the dog, it was decided that it would take two men to control the boat by monitoring the swell of the sea while the third man, Richard Woolmer, entered the water. This crewman was the owner of two Labrador dogs himself and, as he said afterwards, probably the best person to handle a terrified dog in such stressful conditions. A number of factors probably made this particular rescue possible: the skill of the crew who had the training and experience to manage a boat in those perilous conditions, the fact that Richard himself was a sea swimmer, plus the absolute trust that the crew had in each other, and finally it was helpful that Richard, even at 51 years old, was a very powerful man himself, helped by years of playing rugby. Richard made his way towards Bailey, whom he was unable to see at first but was attracted to the sound of her barking. By now the sea swell was getting worse, but the determined lifeboat man continued to swim in the direction that he could hear the barking and finally got sight of the distressed canine.
Into the swell
Having reached the dog despite the treacherous conditions, Richard took the time to try and calm Bailey, and crucial to the rescue was the fact that Bailey was wearing a harness, allowing Richard something to grip as he made his way back to the lifeboat. With the assistance of his crewmates, he was able to push Bailey onto the boat, much to the delight of the onlookers on the cliff top, who burst into a round of applause. It’s not usual for such a dramatic rescue of a dog is viewed by members of the public and recorded on mobile phones.
Bailey was taken ashore and then taken to a local restaurant where she started to recover from her ordeal. It is reported that it didn’t take long as he was happy to indulge in a light snack of toast, hardly surprising, who ever heard of a Labrador refusing food!!
Bailey, who was soon reunited with her owners, has been a beloved pet, and whilst Bailey was initially subdued, she has made a complete recovery.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s advice is that if anyone or any animal requires rescuing, and if there is any risk involved, then contact the Coastguard, who will ensure that the appropriate responders are made available.
“With courage, nothing is impossible.”
The family motto of Sir William Hillary, founder of the RNLI
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