CLEETHORPES seafront came to a standstill yesterday as crowds stopped to watch a dramatic dog rescue unfold.
Four fire engines and a special rescue unit rushed to the promenade near Cleethorpes Leisure Centre after reports that a dog had got stuck in the mud out towards sea.
Two firefighters, wearing special water rescue clothing, went out and managed to coax the female German shepherd-type dog out of the mud and onto the safety of the beach.
It is understood that the dog's owner, who had called the emergency services at about 10.40am, had to leave to go to work while the rescue attempt was being carried out.
Therefore, after unsuccessful attempts by the two firefighters to snare the dog, Humberside Fire And Rescue Service called in the council's animal welfare unit to take over the incident.
Eventually, at about 3.30pm, with the tide closing in, the brown dog was cornered by two members of the council's beach safety team, captured safely and returned to her grateful owner.
Fire crews from Cleethorpes, Immingham East and Immingham West fire stations were called out, along with a special technical rescue unit, containing quad bikes and a dog snare.
Watch manager Graham Quickfall, the officer in charge of the operation, said: "We received a call that there was a dog stuck in the mud at the rear of Cleethorpes Leisure Centre.
"I sent two guys out there in water rescue kit. They got up to the dog and helped coax it out of the mud with a bit of food and back onto the sand.
"They took a dog snare out but they weren't able to catch it. But once we had got it back to safety we called in the stray-dog unit.
"Once the dog was safe we had done our bit and the pumps were sent back.
"People have asked us why we had so many fire engines at the incident. It was not just a question of rescuing a dog. We were sending guys out there on mud flats with an incoming tide, and for health and safety reasons we needed the equipment there as back-up in case they got into difficulty."
Was it your dog? Call us on 01472 372236.
