Cockapoo has miraculous escape after falling off 170ft cliff onto tiny ledge

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 11:17, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 11:18, 28 July 2026 A pet who plunged over a 170ft-cliff while chasing a seagull had a miraculous escape after landing on a ledge half-way down. Charlie the cockapoo was pictured being winched to safety by coastguards following the drama at Sandy Bay on the South Devon coast. The dog was being walked by his owners when he suddenly slipped his collar and went through a gap in the hedge before tumbling over the precipice on Monday.  He plunged down the almost-sheer cliff face but luckily his fall was broken by small rocky outcrop. Coastguards from Exmouth and Beer dashed to the scene and had to lower a winchman down to Charlie with a special dog rescue bag. Luckily Charlie was obedient and went into the bag at first time of asking so he could be hoisted back up the cliff to his relieved owners. Incredibly the grey dog was unhurt from his ordeal. Terry Hoare, of Beer Coastguard, said: 'His owners are on holiday in the area and walked Charlie on a lead. 'It slipped its collar and must have chased a bird. There was a gap in the hedge and he went through it and over the edge. Charlie plunged down the almost-sheer cliff face and landed on a small rocky outcrop, where coastguards were able to reach him  A winchman was lowered down to Charlie with a special dog rescue bag and successfully snared the cockapoo The dog, back on his lead gets a fuss from a coastguard following his ordeal 'The cliff there is pretty sheer but luckily Charlie landed on a narrow ledge about 80ft from the top. 'Had he been a human they would have broken every bone in their body but the dog didn't realise what was happening to him and was all loose which helped him. 'He became stranded on the ledge halfway down the cliff face. 'Working alongside Exmouth Coastguard we set up a full technical rope rescue system and a rope rescue technician was deployed down the cliff to safely reach Charlie. 'We're pleased to say that Charlie was safely rescued and reunited with his very relieved owners.' Three years ago dog walker Thomas Aldwinckle plunged to his death over a cliff further along the coast at Littleham Cove while trying to rescue his springer spaniel who was stuck on a ledge. The 64-year-old was staying in his lodge at Sandy Bay with wife Rosemary, who raised the alarm when he failed to return home. An Exeter inquest heard a police helicopter located his body at the bottom of cliffs at 8:30pm in Littleham Cove, while his beloved dog Mac was found stranded on a ledge above where his body was discovered.