Dramatic video shows Coast Guard rescue Leo the Golden Retriever after plunging over 300-foot Oregon cliff
The US Coast Guard made a daring rescue to airlift a Golden Retriever to safety on New Year’s Day after he plunged more than 300 feet over a sharp cliff — the second inc꧟ident of its kind at the Oregon state park in just seven months.
Leo ha💯d been bounding ahead oཧf his two owners and their other pup at Ecola State Park around 2:45 p.m. when he toppled over the ledge onto the rocky shores of Cannon Beach below.
The drop — the height of the Statue of Liberty — is only accessible by repelling down from a hiking trail.
Local fire departments had just set up their pulley systems when the Coas🌞t Guard chopper arrived on the side of the steep cliffside.
shows the 3-year-old pup cowering on the slim shore with his body pressed against the large rocks of the shor𓃲eline.
The injured dog makes no movement as his rescuer, who swam to the shore after being lowered into the water by a USCG helicopter, slowꦐly approaches.
The rescuer ꦗstrapped Leo into the basket and hoisted him to the safe🧜ty of the helicopter.
“This your first dog rescue, Jason?” the pilot could be heard asking the rescuer after he crawled back into the chopper.
“First dog rescue,” the rescue swimmer responds.
Back on solid ground, Leo was carried ba𒅌ck to his owners, who greeted their belo🍃ved pup with a warm blanket and embraces of gratitude for the USCG hero.
“Aw! Hugs all the way around,” one team member can be heard saying in the video.
“Love it!” responds another.
Leo was rushed to the vet with a collapsed lung, pulmonary contusions, several lacerations and bruises, a brܫoken canine tooth and a broken jaw, according to a fundraiser esta🦂blished by his family.
The canine spent one night at the hospital, where he underwent surgery, and wiဣll need to have a wire inserted i🌄n his jaw to mend the three fractures.
Otherwise, the lucky pup is in great condition and✤ is happy to be home with his family.
“He’s got the best disposition of any dog we’ve known. Leo is big brother to Remy and can’t wait to feel better so he can go on walks and play with Remy,” the fundraiser states.
The terrifying accident is the second time a canine defied de𒐪ath after toppling over the 300-foot fall.
In June, a German Shepard was airlifted to safety after plunging onto the rockওy shore.
The Oregon Parks Department said seeing the same incident occur in the same year is꧟ unusual, though there have been other such rescues in the past.
“Other than these two accidents, I am unsure of any others … The USCG usually responds to surfers in distress in that area, but we are very willing to help out in saving our four-legged friends whenever possible,” the USCG said in a statement.
Dogs are required to be leashed at nearly all times at Ecola State Park, located about 80 mi♏les northwest of Portland along the Oregon coaꦫst.
“Although the coast is beautiful, it is not perfectly safe. We’d like to remind everyone to keep dogs on leash when hiking unless otherwise stated ‘Dogs Allowed Off Leash’ on the state park website,” , one of four agencies who responded to Leo’s New Year’s Day rescue.
