On Monday 27 July 2026 at around 11.30am, the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI were tasked by H.M. Coastguard to support local coastguard rescue units, Exmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and Beer Coastguard Rescue Team. The reported casualty, a dog called Charlie, had gone over the cliff just east of Sandy Bay.
The inshore, D-class lifeboat, George Bearman II, launched swiftly to the location and were able to locate the dog and guide the coastguard rescue teams who had lost sight of the dog from their position on top of the cliff.
In a fantastic example of multi-agency teamwork, the Lifeboat crew were able to be the eyes for the technical rope rescue executed by the coastguard teams, who re-united Charlie with his owners shortly after. Little Charlie was recovered by one of The Coastguards Cliff Tech’s in the Coastguard “dog bag” and appeared unscathed by the incident
A great result for all concerned!
The volunteer crew returned to the station at around 12.30pm where the lifeboat was washed down, refuelled and stands ready for the next tasking.
If you, or your dog, gets into difficulty at the coast, please remember to call 999 and ask for the coastguard. They be ready when the pager goes.

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