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Rescued dog owners thank lifeboat crew
THE OWNERS of a dog which had a lucky escape after going over cliffs near the Cuckmere met with the crew that helped rescue their pet.
Kelly Ixer and Ben Markwick were at Newhaven lifeboat station on Sunday to thank the team that recovered their three-year-old springer spaniel Poppy from the beach under the cliffs.
The Newhaven lifeboat crew were contacted by Solent coastguards back in February to recover the body of a dog which had gone over cliffs just west of Hope Gap. Within seconds of arriving the team were notified of the incident involving Poppy, who had survived after plunging over a 300ft cliff top while chasing seagulls.
Afterwards the lifeboat returned to Newhaven where Poppy was handed in to the care of the Birling Gap coastguards.
During Sunday's get together Kelly and Ben thanked the crew and handed back the RNLI's blanket which was used to wrap Poppy in during the rescue.
Coxswain Ian Johns said, "In return the crew handed Kelly a blanket which had the words Poppy on from the Newhaven Lifeboat.
"Poppy was like a different dog to the day we rescued her - she is really bouncing with life."
The three-year-old was being taken for a walk by Ben's sister Lia and her partner Stephen Winslade who took her to the coast for an outing to give Kelly and Ben a break with their month-old baby son Henry when the incident took place. Poppy was shaken and suffered a partially collapsed lung but was otherwise unhurt.
Ian added, "We try and encourage people to keep their dogs on a lead near the cliff edge - while the owners might be aware the cliff edge is there dogs haven't a clue.
"This happens quite regularly and it's not unusual, the only unusual thing about this case is that the dog survived."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: West
