DIY rescue efforts for dog stuck down 26ft cliff

A rescue operation is under way in Halifax after a dog became trapped 26ft (8m) into a cliff face.

The animal became stuck down a narrow hole in rock on land off Dudley Crescent in Illingworth on Thursday, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) said.

Its crews were unable to free the pet, and said they were unable to drill into the rock without causing structural damage.

Volunteers have been at the scene over the weekend and were still trying to reach the dog at 20:00 BST.

WYFRS said its crews were called out on Thursday and although they could hear barking, they were unable to locate the dog so left the rescue in the hands of the dog's owner.

They were called out again the following day, when cameras were used to see it was stuck far down into the rock face - but said it was unable to drill into the rock without causing structural damage.

Volunteers appealed on a local Facebook group for help to find drilling equipment which could help set the dog free.

A spokesperson for WYFRS said: "Our firefighters could not access the animal within the rock as the gap was too narrow (approximately 12 inches at the widest part and then getting narrower), the animal was too deep into the rock face, and we could not drill into the rock without damaging the structural integrity of the area."

A number of members of the public spent Monday morning digging at the site after the dog was heard barking in the early hours, and they managed to pass water down to it via a funnel.

At 13:30 BST a woman who had been posting updates about the incident said that the group of rescuers were close to reaching the dog after a digger had been used to widen the hole.

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