A DOG is recovering after breaking its leg after falling about 100 feet down a cliff onto a North Yorkshire beach, while the tide was coming in.

Five-year-old Frank, a terrier-type dog, fell off the cliff when he was walking along the Cleveland Way, near Lucy’s Beach Shack, in Cayton Bay with his owner Stewart Wragg, 63.

Stewart, who was on holiday with his former partner Allison, 49, went to look for him and was shocked when he realised Frank had tumbled down towards a rocky outcrop on the beach.

While he was unable to get down to the beach, Chris Gorman, who was walking on the beach, came to Frank’s aid and called the RSCPA.

Chris, from Scarbrough, said: “It was lucky I was down there really as I was on the rocks looking for fishing spots and it is not normally a place where people walk.

“Then I heard a whimpering noise and could see the poor dog and that it looked like he had a broken leg. I thought he had run off from his owner and slipped on rocks - I had no idea he had fallen so far at the time.

“I reported the matter to the RSPCA and then carried him in my arms. I had to be careful on the slippery rocks as I didn’t want to fall and hurt him further.

“I then took him along the beach and a couple saw me and gave me a blanket to use as a stretcher to carry him up the hill.”

Frank was reported missing and was reunited with his owners after RSPCA officer Claire Little contacted the local dog warden.

Frank has now had surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Stewart and Allison were both relieved and delighted to find Frank had been found safe and he had survived his ordeal, on Friday April 16, with injuries which will heal.

He had an operation to repair his broken leg last Wednesday and has had his injured back leg pinned. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Allison, who is now looking after Frank at her home in Chesterfield, said: “He had an operation by our vet and I am so pleased he is doing really well in himself.

“He had a splint on until the operation was carried out on Tuesday and was able to hobble in the garden to do his business up until then.

“He is eating well and being his normal happy self, you really wouldn’t know he had been put through such an ordeal.

“He was walking on the clifftop with Stewart, who is walking the Cleveland Way, when we think he went off investigating. Like most dogs he does like burrows and fox holes so we wonder if he caught the scent of something then in his over excitement went off too far.

“It is fantastic he is doing so well after his ordeal and I am so grateful to Chris who went to his rescue and carried him up the cliff as the tide was coming in.

“Then the RSPCA helped reunite us with him - and the local vet helped make him comfortable until we got him home for veterinary surgery.

“We are so grateful to all involved for helping Frank and getting him back to us safely. He is now enjoying lots of cuddles and fuss from me.”

Claire said she was delighted that Frank escaped without serious injuries and that he is now doing well at home.

Ms Little said: “It is such a high drop - he was a very lucky boy to survive the fall and then to be found especially as the tide was coming in.”

“I would like to thank Chris for being great and bringing him up the cliff from the beach.

“I am just so glad he is doing well and he is delighted to be back home enjoying lots of fuss with Allison.

“I would just like to remind people walking on coastal paths it is often good to put their dogs on leads in these areas. Often dogs can get excited with all the sights and sounds and even older pets may wander further than they normally do.”