Oscar the lifesaver: Labrador who plunged 200ft down cliff with his master led coastguards to them by barking

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Canine hero: Oscar is treated for his injuries after his courageous effort


A holidaymaker who plummeted down a cliff with his dog was saved when the pet barked for help, leading rescuers to the spot where they were both trapped.

Doctor Chris Babbs, 53, was knocked unconscious after the 200ft fall, as he tried to retrieve Golden Labrador Oscar, who was the first to fall over the edge of the cliff.

But it was the six-year-old family pet who saved the day when he barked to alert coastguards to their location at Little Cliff, near Scarborough in West Yorkshire.


Lucky to be alive: Doctor Chris Babbs with partner Sue, he fell 200ft onto rocks with his dog at Little Cliff, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and remains in a serious condition in hospital


Chris, 53, had been on holiday with his partner, Sue, and their three dogs in Scarborough when Oscar fell from a narrow path over the cliff.

But as dad-of-two Chris tried to rescue the dog he disappeared from view leaving Sue unaware that he had suffered serious injuries and was lying unconscious on the rocks below.

After 15 minutes of shouting for Chris to return with Oscar to the top of the cliff, Sue, 52, feared the worst and dialled 999.

She then faced an agonising wait to discover whether he had survived the horror fall.


Big drop: The cliffs at Little Cliff near Scarborough where Chris and Oscar slipped and plunged to the rocks below


Sue, a GP in Rochdale, said: 'Chris shouldn't really be alive. I think Oscar saved his life by guiding the coastguards to him with his barking.

'After I lost sight of Chris I just assumed he'd had gone further along the coastline to climb back up. I didn't hear anything, I was shouting and there was no response from Chris, only Oscar.

'It was really windy and stormy - I could hear Oscar barking. The other two dogs were distraught because they could hear Oscar.


Hero: Oscar the Labrador is carefully placed into a child's harness by rescuers following his dramatic fall


Chris was moved to Hope Hospital in Salford, Manchester, in the early hours of Wednesday and last night remained on a ventilator in intensive care where his condition remained serious but stable.

Oscar suffered cuts to his right eye and a fractured thigh, and will also need surgery.

Flight Sgt Rick Jones, who was part of the five-man Sea King helicopter rescue crew from Leconfield, Humberside, said they were stunned to find Chris was alive.

He said: 'We did fear the worst, knowing the location. We were amazed when we saw signs of life - they had fallen 200ft so it's pretty amazing that they survived.'


Lucky to be alive: Doctor Chris Babbs is put on to a stretcher after sustaining serious injuries in the fall at Little Cliff, Scarborough


source: dailymail