'A rescue we'll never forget!' Dog found drifting out to sea on inflatable kayak
Last updated 8th Jun 2026
A German Shepherd has been reunited with its owner after a dramatic rescue operation off the Northumberland coast.
Volunteer crews from Seahouses RNLI and local boat operators joined a search on Sunday afternoon after the dog - named Bruce - was blown out to see in an inflatable kayak.
The kayak was eventually spotted by the crew of Serenity around 2.2 nautical miles from where it had left Bamburgh beach, north of the Farne Islands.
The sightseeing boat had dropped visitors on Inner Farne to join the search.
Seahouses lifeboat team had initially received of report of a person in difficulty in the water but it later emerged that the animal's owner had managed to scramble to shore, after battling the wind and tide.
Duty Launch Authority Hugh Fell said: "This a fantastic outcome to what could have been a very tragic situation.
"We are a station of dog lovers and completely understand the owners desire to save Bruce.
"However he did exactly the right thing returning to shore and preventing himself from becoming a casualty."
WATCH: Click on the link below to view the moment the dog is spotted...
As the Serenity crew approached, there was initially no sign of Bruce. Moments later, the dog emerged from inside the drifting kayak.
Bruce was pulled safely aboard, wrapped in towels and warmed up before being taken back to Seahouses Harbour.
The RNLI returned the kayak to shore while Bruce was reunited with his relieved owner.
He said: "I don’t know what I would of done if he wasn’t found. I couldn’t bring my self to leave him, but there’s nothing I could do when he go so far out."
The rescue comes just days after Serenity's crew delighted passengers with sightings of orcas off the Northumberland coast.
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