Dog that fell 650ft down cliff while chasing rock escaped with just a broken tail

A nine-year-old spaniel was rescued by volunteers after falling 650 feet (200m) down a cliff chasing a rock. The Brecon Mountain Rescue Team were called by Dyfed-Powys Police after Woody fell from the summit of Pen Y Fan in Wales on Saturday.



A small party of eight rescuers were tasked to the scene, allowing members of the public who had been trying to rescue Woody to retreat to safer ground. The crew treated the dog for suspected spinal and internal injuries and stretchered him off the hill.



He was then taken to Honddu Veterinary Centre in Brecon and discovered to have only a broken tail and some minor cuts and bruises. The incident happened when a member of the public threw a stone off the northeast face of the mountain and Woody jumped straight over the cliff edge and plummeted 200 or so metres down the steep face, to the horror of his owner from Abertillery.



Rescue leader David Grant said: “Woody was one of the best behaved casualties we have bought off the mountain. He was very well behaved, grateful, light to carry and didn’t complain once.” Mountain rescuers have asked people to be aware that throwing rocks from summits is very dangerous, not only for eager spaniels, but for humans walking or working below.