Dog plunges 300 feet off cliff into ocean, Oregon officials say. Video shows the rescue
A golden retriever named Leo plunged about 300 feet off a rocky cliff into the ocean at an Oregon state park, rescuers said.
Firefighters responded to the animal at about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 1 at Ecola State Park, the Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District said in a Facebook post.
Rescuers were ready to rappel down the cliff when the U.S. Coast Guard responded in a helicopter because Leo landed in an area that was “inaccessible from the beach,” rescuers told McClatchy News.
A rescue swimmer was sent into the water and found the dog, the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The dog was hoisted in a basket and taken to a parking lot at about 4:15 p.m. where he was reunited with his owners, rescuers said. Leo had injuries to his legs and face, so he was taken to a veterinary clinic in Hillsboro.
A veterinarian determined Leo had a broken jaw, bruising on his lung, ear and stomach, and a collapsed lung, his owner told rescuers. Rescuers did not disclose the owner’s name.
“Overall, he is doing good, all things considered,” the owner told rescuers, according to an email. “We are so thankful he is alive and is expected to recover.”
It’s also not the first time a dog plunged off a cliff at this state park.
In June, a German Shepherd tumbled 300 feet down a cliff onto a remote part of the beach, according to rescuers. This animal was also hoisted from the area.
This story was originally published January 2, 2024 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Dog plunges 300 feet off cliff into ocean, Oregon officials say. Video shows the rescue."
