Dog rescued after falling down 50ft ravine in Cropton Forest

Fire crews from Pickering were called to reports at 4.50pm on Saturday that  a man and his dog had fallen off the walking path at Needle Point in Cropton Forest.

The dog owner had managed to return to the path safe and well, so resources switched to rescuing Roxy, a two year old Patterdale Terrier, who was perched on a ledge.

Fire crews realised the drop was much further than first thought, and mountain rescue teams also called in

A spokesperson for Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue team said: "It is believed that Roxy had been ’distracted’ by a squirrel resulting in the fall.

"Working with the Fire and Rescue service we quickly set up a dual rope system to lower John, one of our team members, with dog treats down to Roxy. The dog appeared uninjured and was coaxed into a rope bag before John and Roxy were hauled back to the top of the crag allowing Roxy to be reunited with her relieved owners."

"In a great example of joint working and we were grateful of the scene lighting provided by the Fire and Rescue Service which turned a dark, wet, foggy night into daylight, for clearing the shrubs away from the crag edge and for helping haul John and Roxy back up from the find site.

"We had sixteen team members deployed for three and a quarter hours. Roxy appeared no worse for her adventure."

Gill Richardson later took to Facebook to thank firefighters for helping to rescue her dog Roxy.

"It was an anxious time for us not knowing if the rescue would go ahead tonight or wait until morning," she said. "You were all fantastic  Thank you."