A dog was rescued by the RNLI on Sunday
after going missing for nearly 10 days near Foreland Point in North Devon.

The springer spaniel named Sprig, went
missing during a walk after becoming trapped on a rock ledge on August 22.

A lifeboat team from Minehaed luckily
spotted the nine-year-old dog in a chance sighting while out on exercise on
Sunday morning.

The crew had taken the boat close into the
cliffs after noticing a sheep that was apparently trapped before spotting
movement some way below the animal.

Helmsman Andrew Escott, said: “We went in as
close as we could and then we could see it was a dog. It was about 30ft above
the water and we couldn’t work out how it had got in that position.”

Mr Escott was able to go ashore and climb
up to the stranded animal before calling Minehead’s D-class lifeboat so the dog
could be lowered to safety.

“He had clearly been there for some time
because he was licking water off my dry suit and he did seem rather pleased to
see us.” 

Following the rescue, it became clear that
Sprig had been the subject of a major search by his owners who were delighted
to be reunited with him.

Mark and Susie Sanders, along with their
family, had organised search parties and scoured the area around Foreland Point
after their dog disappeared during a walk.

Mrs Sanders said: “We were coming to the
conclusion that he must have wandered off and then been stolen. I just could
not believe it when we had a call to say the lifeboat crew had spotted him and
rescued him. It’s amazing, the best news ever.”