Dog Rescued After Spending the Day on a Cliff Face

After being lodged on a cliff face high above rocks in a Coromandel Peninsula cove yesterday, five-year-old Labrador Macey, is one lucky pooch.

His rescue came some six hours after slipping over the cliff edge while out on a walk with his owners Rick and Helen Ewart, who had been at their Whangamata holiday home for the weekend.

To get Macey off the cliff took volunteer fire fighters from nearby Onemana, Whangamata and Tairua, Whangamata Surf Lifeguards and the Whangamata Coastguard.

Add to the list the Fire and Emergency New Zealand specialist lines crew who abseiled down the cliff to bring Macey up to safety.

As Rick and Helen both said the teamwork, co-ordination, and collective input from a number of emergency services was outstanding.

“When he went over the cliff, we looked for an hour before taking the only option we could think of being to call 111,” said Rick.

“From there all these organisations came to assist – most volunteers and giving up their Sunday. And this was for our dog – it is reassuring it could have been a human.”

Helen said they had no idea if Macey was injured, the couple had heard some whimpering and feint cries that was all.

The rescue crew abseiled down the cliff approximately 20 metres, located Macey and put him into a harness so he could be winched up.

Incident Controller, Jo Adams of the Onemana brigade, said Macey was one lucky dog. He said everyone played their role and the skills and expertise of the lines team were clear to see.

As for Macey he was showing not apparent affects from the ordeal in true Labrador tradition he was happy for a pat and a slice of pizza.