Daring operation to rescue stranded dog from sea cave
Friday's cave rescue in Porturlin in North Mayo was concluded at midnight.
The Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO) was a dog’s best friend on Friday night when it came to the aid of a retired sheepdog that had been missing for almost a week.
The ICRO were called out to assist with the rescue of the dog from a sea cave close to Porturlin Harbour in North Mayo.
Jess, a retired sheepdog belonging to a local family, had been missing since the previous weekend.
Locals could hear barking but a boat rescue was considered impossible due to sea swell so the services of the ICRO were called upon, with a small rescue rigging team drawn from core team members in Clare, Tyrone and Dublin.
At approximately 9.30pm on Friday, two rescuers descended by rope some 50 metres down a grassy slope and over the cliff edge to get to Jess in the sea cave.
The dog was put in an animal rescue harness and given food, then hauled up from the base of the cliff and returned to her family – the entire operation being concluded before midnight.
“ICRO personnel are trained to carry out rescues of people or animals in caves and abandoned mines,” explained ICRO chairperson Adam de Eyto who said the ICRO team were glad to be able to assist.
“When requested by An Garda Síochána or the Police Service of Northern Ireland, ICRO volunteers can respond anywhere in the country. In this case it was a sea cave at the base of a difficult cliff.”
