Olive the Airedale Terrier reunites with Wells RNLI after her life was saved
By Jill Dando News
Olive, the Airedale Terrier who was rescued by Wells RNLI on Sunday 29 December after a life-threatening emergency, visited the station with her family and four-legged companion Nell to express their immense gratitude to the crew who saved her life.
Olive had been found unresponsive in the water and, thanks to the fast actions of the Wells RNLI volunteer crew using their knowledge of human casualty care, a crew member was able to administer chest compressions on the dog and she was brought back to safety: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/december/29/wells-inshore-lifeboat-rescues-dog-cut-off-by-tide
During their visit, Olive and her family had the chance to meet volunteers and to thank them personally for their quick response and lifesaving efforts.
The family were given a tour of the station, where they learned about the vital lifesaving work the RNLI does.
Gil, 11 and Sylvie, eight, Olive’s owners, were eager to learn more about water safety, asking the crew insightful questions about the importance of staying safe around water and the various ways the RNLI assists people in distress.
Gil also had the chance to try on the all-weather lifeboat kit, while Sylvie was fascinated by the crews pagers, asking how they work in alerting volunteers to emergencies.
Sylvie plans to do a show and tell at school to highlight the importance of water safety and spread the awareness of how dangerous the sea can be.
The whole family expressed their heartfelt thanks to the crew for saving Olive’s life and reiterated how deeply grateful they are for the RNLI’s dedication and service. Olive, now healthy and happy, was the star of the visit, bringing smiles to the faces of everyone at the station.
Tom, Olive's owner, said:
‘We could not be more grateful for the rescue and support we received by the brilliant lifeboat crew and on shore team. Their professionalism, kindness and care was inspirational and we cannot thank them enough for saving Olive’s life and bringing us to safety.’
Inshore lifeboat Helm Gary Yarham, said;
‘Every shout has its challenges whether it’s dealing with people or animals, but through extensive training provided by the RNLI we know we have the knowledge and skills to carry out the task necessary to achieve a positive outcome.'
Nurse and crew member Simon Parkes explained:
‘I am used to resuscitating humans but never a dog. It was a huge relief when Olive started slowly breathing. Then a great team effort, both inshore and shore crew, getting her back to the boathouse to warm her up. What a relief when Olive was able to walk out with her family.’
Wells RNLI would like to remind every one of the importance of water safety, and are thankful to the community for their continued support in helping the charity save lives at sea.
For advice on how to stay safe at the coast with a dog, please visit: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/coastal-walking/dog-walking
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