Aberdeen RNLI launched on Wednesday following a 999 call to the coastguard in aid of a dog and walker in trouble on the banks of the River Dee.
Inshore lifeboat, Buoy Woody 85N launched at 3:26pm following reports of a dog and owner sighted in trouble on the banks of the river. Heavy snowmelt has seen water conditions becoming dangerous, with fast-flowing water, debris travelling downstream toward the harbour mouth and the Dee having burst its banks at various points along the way.
The lifeboat and volunteer crew conducted an extensive search up and down the river and harbour, before standing down at 17:10. Neither the dog nor owner were reported as being seen but the crew was confident that both are safe and well.
Grant Bruce, Helm, said: “We take shouts involving dogs incredibly seriously. We’re conscious that where there is a dog involved, the owner is likely to go into the water after them. The RNLI encourages owners to move to a safe place and report the incident to the coastguard. In this instance, it was a member of the public who reported the incident, allowing us to launch quickly and ensure that no one was in danger. We always encourage owners to contact the coastguard with an update if both dog and owner get themselves to safety.
“Both rivers are particularly dangerous right now, even more so than usual, with logs and other debris, as well as a considerable amount of fast-flowing water heading downstream as a result of the now thawing heavy snowfall we’ve seen lately. We want to remind the public to be vigilant when walking on the river banks and to keep dogs on a lead as much as possible.”
The RNLI is a charity is funded by support from the public which allows us to continue saving lives at sea.