Lifeboat rescuers save tiny Chihuahua and its owner stranded by rising Thames

A lifeboat crew came to the rescue of a tiny Chihuahua and its owner stranded by the rising tide on the Thames foreshore.

Katie McDonald climbed down on to the muddy bank after her dog plunged 15ft to the riverside during a walk in Hammersmith. The pair then became stuck as water levels reached their highest point in the day.

Unable to climb to safety, Ms McDonald called the RNLI shortly after 10.15am to rescue her — along with her pet — from the foreshore about half a mile from Hammersmith Bridge.

A lifeboat team was scrambled from the RNLI’s Chiswick base, and within minutes the crew had found Ms McDonald and the dog, who were “very muddy” but unhurt.

“This was the eighth dog our crew has helped this year,” said Chiswick RNLI helmsman Glen Monroe, after the rescue on November 11.

“It was fortunate that the Chihuahua fell into soft mud and wasn’t injured. As in many other incidents, evacuating casualties into the lifeboat was the only safe option. With a launch target of 90 seconds and the speed of the E-class lifeboat we can reach any incident in a few minutes.”

The RNLI, the UK’s largest lifeguard charity, said its Chiswick base is its second busiest for call-outs in the country and in Ireland.