COASTGUARDS were called out twice last week to help save dogs swept away in the swollen River Avill at Dunster – but while one had a miraculous escape, the other could not be found.

The first incident happened last Thursday, when Watchet and Minehead Coastguard responded to a 999 call just after 3pm that a 14-week-old puppy had fallen into the river at the Packhorse Bridge and been swept away.

Teams searched on both sides of the river towards Loxhole Bridge and on Dunster Beach – until news came through that the puppy had been spotted.

“He was cold, wet, scared but safe and well ... luckily [he] had managed to scramble out onto a bit of the river bank,” said Mike Champion, station officer for Watchet Coastguard (pictured).

“We saw him hidden on the bank and directed a team member to him – he was more than happy to be picked up.

“He was only 14 weeks old, a miniature poodle, just a little ball of fluff.”

Mike said the dog’s owners, two grandparents who were out with their granddaughter, were “over the moon”.

“They were in tears when we couldn’t find him – and in tears when we did.”

A multi-agency search also swung into action at 11.30am on Saturday morning in the grounds of Dunster Castle, when the coastguard were told a small black dachshund dog was in the River Avill.

A Minehead fire and rescue crew, members of staff from the castle, Watchet and Minehead Coastguard, police, a specialist rescue team from Bridgwater and Minehead lifeboat were all involved in the operation.

The teams used equipment including thermal imaging, dry suits, throw lines and wading poles, and searched out at sea, but after three hours, having exhausted all avenues, “a reluctant decision was made” to stand down.