Firefighters in double animal rescue near coastal spot

A dog is lucky to be alive after falling 60ft down a sinkhole as it chased a bird.
Fireighters were called out twice to Whitburn to rescue animalsFireighters were called out twice to Whitburn to rescue animals
Fireighters were called out twice to Whitburn to rescue animals

Fire crews and specialist rope rescue crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Lighthouse View area of Whitburn at 7am, today.

A spaniel had become trapped after falling 60ft down a sink hole.

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A firefighter trained in rope rescue was secured to a line and lowered into the hole to retrieve the dog, which was safely brought to the surface uninjured and reunited with its owner.

The rescue of the dog came 12 hours after crews from South Shields and Hebburn had been called to Mill Lane, also in Whitburn to rescue a 16 hand horse called Rosie.

The mare had one of her legs trapped in a cast iron pipe, at around 7.30pm, yesterday.

A vet who was present sedated the stricken mare and firefighters used cutting equipment to remove a section of the pipe, before releasing her leg. The animal was then left in the care of the vet and her owner.

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District Manager for South Tyneside Bill Forster, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Part of our job is to respond to calls involving animal rescues, and our firefighters are trained to deal with these incidents in such a way that protects the animal concerned, themselves and, where appropriate, the animal’s owner.“All animals, including the most docile of species, when they are taken out of their normal environment, are injured, trapped or cornered, can react in an unexpected manner. That is why we have training and specialist equipment in place to hopefully bring about a safe and happy conclusion. Hopefully, in both these case, the animals suffered no lasting effects from their ordeals.”