Praise for RNLI volunteers after dog runs into sea

Claire Hallam with Skegness RNLI volunteers with family pet Bonnie who they helped after running into the sea. ANL-160129-145843001

A cocker spaniel saw red when she spotted seagulls hovering over the shoreline in Skegness '“ but ended up in the safe arms of the local volunteer lifeboat crew.

Bonnie, the four-year-old treasured pet of Diane French, slipped her lead during a family walk on the beach and the alarm was raised when she disappeared under water.

Diane’s daughter, Claire Hallam, said: “I didn’t know what else to do but call the Coastguard when I couldn’t see her.

“I’d been trying to catch her since she ran off at North Shore but I was wearing by wellies and she was too quick. All I could see was birds taking off and she was trying to catch them and landing in the water – then suddenly she was gone.

“The lifeboat crew told me they had men on the beach and one came running and another came in a tractor and trailer.

“Suddenly I spotted her again and then she walked towards me – I think she was exhausted. She was in my arms when the lifeboat men came and I just burst into tears. Emotions just kicked in.

“We were near the station by then and they took her inside and gave her a warm shower.

“I’ll always be grateful to them.

“I just knew I couldn’t go back to mum without her.”

Adam Holmes, deputy lifeboat press officer (volunteer), said they had been delighted the incident had a happy ending.

• Statistics released last week show more than 3,000 people were helped by the RNLI in the north of England last year, which includes Skegness.

There were 33 call-outs in the town, 23 for the inshore lifeboat and 10 for the all-weather boat.