Lifeboat saves dog after it falls into the sea in Essex

Undated handout photo issued by RNLI of crewman Darren Priestnall with dog Archie, who sparked a dramatic rescue operation after he fell from a cliff edge into the sea at Walton Backwaters in Essex. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 23, 2014. The inshore lifeboat from Harwich lifeboat station was on its way back from a fundraising event when it was contacted by Thames Coastguard during the incident earlier this month, an RNLI spokesman said. See PA story RESCUE Dog. Photo credit should read: RNLI/Keith Churchman/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

A drowning dog provoked a dramatic rescue operation in Essex after it fell 30ft into the sea.

An RNLI lifeboat was scrambled to save Patterdale Terrier Archie after he plunged over the edge of a cliff at Walton Backwaters in Essex.

The dog's owner Maxine Rule, who was also walking her partner's dog Lexi, told the Colchester Gazette: "Both dogs ran across the field, Archie got to the edge, stopped and then just went over. Lexi didn't follow, but was looking for another way down.

"When I ran over, I could not believe the drop and thought he must be dead."

The inshore lifeboat from Harwich lifeboat station was on its way back from a fundraising event when it was contacted by Thames Coastguard during the incident earlier this month, an RNLI spokesman said.

Crewman Darren Priestnall plucked six-year-old Archie from the water and waded back to the shore to reunite him with his owner.

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