26/10/2026
Workington RNLI's inshore lifeboat was called out this morning after a dog walker became cut off by the tide.
The man had been walking his Belgian Malinois on the shore between Workington and Salterbeck.
He became stranded and phoned a relative, who called Workington Lifeboat Station at 9.30am.
The dog walker was trapped in a cave.
Belfast Coastguard was contacted to confirm the call was genuine before Workington's inshore lifeboat, James R Allan, was launched at 9.55am.
The crew arrived at the initial scene at 10.05am, where there was no sign of the pair, and Belfast Coastguard asked the team to search further south.
Crew members spotted the man a few minutes later after he had climbed a few metres up the cliff face.
Attempts to coax him down from his position were unsuccessful, so the inshore lifeboat moved back to deeper water and waited to help if needed.
Whitehaven and Maryport Coastguard rescue teams arrived at the scene.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 36 from Caernarfon, requested by Belfast Coastguard, had been requested and was in transit.
But with the aircraft still some time off, the Coastguard Officer in Charge made the decision to deploy a Rope Rescue Technician on a twin rope system.
The aircraft was requested to proceed and provide top cover on arrival.
The team established safe anchor points, from which the technician was lowered down the cliff through breaking waves and into the cave.
The casualty and dog were found to be trapped and shaken, but otherwise unhurt.
Once the man and his dog were safely retrieved, both the helicopter and the James R Allan were stood down at noon.
The lifeboat returned to its station at 12.15pm and was made ready for future search and rescue calls.
This incident is a timely reminder of the importance to check the tide times and conditions before setting off for a walk.
A great example of multi-agency working and thanks to our Coastguard colleagues and the helicopter crew.
𝙄𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 call 999 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙.
