Bouncing Bruno survives Combe Martin cliff plunge

A six stone labrador survived a fall from a Combe Martin cliff and lived to wag the tail thanks to the coastguard, fire service and more than a little luck. Bruno was walking with his owners near Little Hangman on Friday afternoon when he darted into to t

A six stone labrador survived a fall from a Combe Martin cliff and lived to wag the tail thanks to the coastguard, fire service and more than a little luck.

Bruno was walking with his owners near Little Hangman on Friday afternoon when he darted into to the undergrowth, only to plunge down a sheer drop the other side.

A small ledge 20 or more feet down broke his fall and his worried owners, on holiday in nearby Berrynarbor, called 999.

The cliff rescue team from Ilfracombe Coastguard was joined by fire crews from Combe Martin and Ilfracombe, some of whom went down on lines to secure Bruno before the coastguard used retrieval equipment to winch him to safety.

"He was a very loveable friendly dog and did not seem to object at all, even when being hauled up the cliff in a bag," said group manger Martin Davis from Ilfracombe Fire Station.

"At the top he had some water and just walked off on his lead, with no injuries at all.

"It was nice for us to be able to assist the coastguard in this way and it was a good example of emergency services working together.