RNLI and ‘courageous’ pair rescue family and dog at Kynance Cove

A family of five and their dog were rescued by the RNLI and two cafe workers after becoming stranded by a rising tide in a Cornish cove.

The drama unfolded at Kynance Cove on the Lizard peninsula at about 18:00 BST on Monday when Otis the dog and his owners were cut off with the swell rising from Hurricane Erin, said Lizard RNLI.

The owners had just been rescued by Rudy Donovan and Chris Betty from Kynance Cove Cafe, who paddled out on a SUP and a surfboard to bring the family, two adults and three children to safety.

But Otis had panicked and bolted, scrambling up the cliffs of Asparagus Island.

Mr Donovan and Mr Betty had raised the alarm with the RNLI about Otis who they had been unable to bring to safety.

A six-strong Lizard RNLI crew on the rescue boat RNLB Rose reached the scene to join Mullion and Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Teams.

With sea conditions worsening, two RNLI crew members in a smaller boat approached the island, one leaping onto the rocks to calm Otis while the other returned to the lifeboat to collect a third crew member and a rescue line.

The line was secured to the crew member on the rocks who entered the water with Otis.

The large dog proved difficult to lift aboard the rescue boat, so he was held securely against the side as the crew navigated back to RNLB Rose, where he was finally brought aboard.

Otis was later reunited with his grateful owners and taken to a vet as a precaution.

The RNLI praised Rudy and Chris for their “courageous intervention” and advised all beachgoers to heed tide warnings and listen to local advice to avoid getting caught out.