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Almost a dog-goner: Retriever chasing rabbit plunges over 250ft cliff - and survives
A rescue operation was launched at the scene in Sidmouth
A golden retriever tumbled over a 250ft cliff after his enthusiastic chase after a rabbit went awry.
Eight-year-old pet Sam had spotted the rabbit and gone chasing after it while being taken for a walk along a coastal path in Devon.
But then dog and the rabbit disappeared from view.
Owner Jonathan Minshull, 38, frantically searched for him for an hour before his friend Simon Price climbed down to the beach and spotted Sam on a ledge below the cliff edge.
Sam had survived the plunge thanks to gorse bushes which broke his fall half-way down.
A rescue operation was launched at the scene in Sidmouth and Sam was hauled to safety four hours later.
The drama happened last Friday as Jonathan, his family and several friends went for a clifftop walk during a camping holiday.
Jonathan from Derby, said: "I was taking photographs and didn't see him disappear.
"He was there one minute and the next he was gone. At first we thought he'd run into a field which was near the path.
"We were searching in the field for him. It didn't cross my mind for one second that he might have jumped off a cliff.
"It wasn't until Simon went down on the beach and looked up at the cliff that he saw Sam."
He added: "His fall had been broken by some gorse bushes. When I saw he was moving around on the cliff I was amazed. I imagine he was barking but I couldn't hear him because he was too far away."
A rescue team from Devon and Somerset Fire Service rigged up a winch before carefully lowering a man down to reach the dog. Sam was thirsty and tired but completely unscathed. The rabbit was nowhere to be found.
Jonathan said: "My kids adore Sam. He's just a big, daft dog. He's got a heart of gold.
[Porky pugs and chunky cats line-up for annual pet slimming competition]
"When he was pulled up over the cliff he was really happy to see us. He just wanted to get back to the campsite to cool down."
Sidmouth fire crew commander Jack Burgess urged dog walkers to keep animals on leads whenever possible.
