COASTGUARD NEWS - SCOTLAND & NI          

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Scotland & NI 194/01
6 December 2001

DOG RESCUED AFTER FALL DOWN CLIFF

A Coastguard cliff rescue team were called on 2 December 2001 after a black terrier, which is believed to be around 12-years-old, fell down a 60ft cliff at the Bullers of Buchan, near Cruden Bay, while out for an afternoon walk with its owner.

The team however were not required as a member of the public and a firefighter from Grampian Fire Brigade who were called to the scene at around 1.45pm had managed to scramble down the gully and rescue the dog."

A brigade spokesman said the dog had some facial injuries and was suffering from shock. The dog was taken to a vet in Peterhead to be checked over.

Also near Cruden Bay on 3 December a meteorite sparked an emergency alert as concerned onlookers nearby thought the green light in the sky was a flare from a ship in danger.

A spokesman for Aberdeen coastguard said two emergency calls were received at the same time from people in the Slains area near Cruden Bay.

He said: "Both said it looked like a green flare which they saw go up and down, but it was almost definitely a meteorite.

"A flare doesn't ignite until it's at its apex and it doesn't drop in a straight line, it spirals down very slowly because it's on a parachute.

"People use red flares in distress and white for attention. I don't think anyone uses green.

"We asked vessels in the area if they had spotted anything but nobody else reported anything."