A dog has miraculously survived after falling 130ft off a cliff edge and spending all night lying injured on a beach.
Eight-year-old New Zealand huntaway and border collie cross Dexter was rescued by the fire service after breaking his front legs.
Dexter’s owner Bethany Boyle, 16, was walking him on the banks at Easington Beach in County Durham when he suddenly disappeared in the long grass.
Eight-year-old New Zealand huntaway and border collie cross Dexter (pictured) miraculously survived after falling 130ft off a cliff edge and spending all night lying injured on a beach
Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene and rescued Dexter from the beach on a stretcher, following the accident on March 27
She spent hours searching for her beloved pet and reluctantly returned home for the night when she couldn’t find him.
The following morning Bethany, who works as a waitress, started searching the area for Dexter at 5.30am with her family and friends.
They discovered him lying injured on the beach at the foot of the cliff between two rocks.
Bethany, from Wheatley Hill, County Durham, said: ‘He ran into the long grass and I couldn’t see him anywhere.
‘I thought it was odd as he usually barks really loud and he never goes missing. I was really worried and scared.
‘We walked along the beach the next morning and found him at the bottom of the cliff between two rocks.
Dexter’s owner Bethany Boyle (pictured together), 16, was walking him on the banks at Easington Beach in County Durham when he suddenly disappeared in the long grass
She spent hours searching for her beloved pet and reluctantly returned home for the night when she couldn’t find him
‘I was screaming because I saw the blood on the floor before I saw Dexter. That really scared me, it wasn’t pleasant.
‘I was shouting at him, I thought he would have got up but he didn’t. At that point I thought he was dead. But then he moved his head and I knew he was okay.
‘I think with it being longer grass he didn’t see the edge or when he reached it he was going too quickly to stop.
‘We were just lucky that it hadn’t been a bad night, otherwise he wouldn’t have been as well as he was.’
Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene and rescued Dexter from the beach on a stretcher, following the accident on March 27.
Once found at the scene (pictured) he was taken to Wear Referrals, the North East Veterinary Specialist, for urgent medical attention
He had punctured his lung, shattered his front legs and fractured a knee cap and has since had a metal plate inserted into each of his front legs (pictured right)
He was taken to Wear Referrals, the North East Veterinary Specialist, for urgent medical attention.
He had punctured his lung, shattered his front legs and fractured a knee cap and has since had a metal plate inserted into each of his front legs.
Dexter has also had surgery to fuse his two front wrists and insert a screw and a pin through his kneecap to wire it together.
And the search team set up a fundraising page to help pay for the much needed treatment.
Three weeks on, he is now able to walk again. Bethany said: ‘I want to thank the fire service for rescuing Dexter. He is great now, he is back up on his feet and is walking again.
‘I still can’t believe he has survived falling 130ft off a cliff and then spending all night on the beach. He’s a pretty strong dog.’