Man tried to save dog who fell off Pismo Beach cliff. Then firefighters rescued both
By Stephanie Zappelli ,
David Middlecamp and
Laura Dickinson
Cal Fire personnel rescued a man and his golden retriever Thursday after they became trapped on a beach at the bottom of the cliffs at Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo Beach. Neither were injured.
The escapade began Thursday morning when Shell Beach resident Ryan McCormick and his dog Rosie embarked on their usual walk, he said.
At the park, McCormick removed Rosie’s leash so she could play, he said, and she disappeared into the bushes.
Normally, when Rosie chases animals, she’ll return to McCormick pretty quickly, he said. So when she didn’t reappear, he started to worry.
Cal Fire SLO and other agencies worked to rescue a person and their dog stuck 90 feet below Dinosaur Caves in Pismo Beach on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
“She didn’t come back to me, so I started panicking and I knew something was wrong,” McCormick said.
After 30 minutes of searching, he spotted Rosie stuck on a beach underneath a cave, about 90 feet below the bluff. He assumed that she chased an animal off the cliff, landed in the water and swam to the beach, he said.
“I’m just so thankful she’s alive. I thought she was gone,” McCormick said.
Rosie, a golden retriever, chased an animal off the side of a cliff near Dinosaur Caves on Thursday morning, June 29, 2023. Her owner Ryan McCormick scaled the cliff to find her, and the pair were rescued by SLO County firefighters. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
He scaled the cliff side to rescue Rosie and spent an hour trying to transport her back to the park before calling the Fire Department for help, he said.
“I don’t know how she’s fine. It’s a miracle,” McCormick said. “She’s just lucky she didn’t hit a rock, didn’t get broken legs or worse.”
Cal Fire sent seven fire engines and 25 personnel to rescue McCormick and Rosie, said Paul Lee, battalion chief of Cal Fire City of Pismo Beach.
After about two hours, they pulled the man and his dog to safety.
Firefighters cinch up the ropes leading to the crew members who repelled down the cliff to rescue Ryan McCormick and his dog Rosie, who went over a cliff chasing an animal at Dinosaur Caves Park in Shell Beach on June 29, 2023. They were OK after the rescue. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
A SLO County firefighter repels down a cliff with a rescue board to retrieve Shell Beach resident Ryan McCormick and his dog Rosie on June 29, 2023. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
Rosie, a golden retriever, chased an animal off the side of a cliff near Dinosaur Caves on Thursday morning, June 29, 2023. Her owner Ryan McCormick scaled the cliff to find her, and the pair were rescued by SLO County firefighters. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
Ryan McCormick of Shell Beach and his dog Rosie were hauled up from the bottom of a cliff at Dinosaur Caves after the golden retriever went over the side chasing an animal on June 29, 2023. SLO County firefighters unhook McCormick after lifting him to safety. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
A crowd watches first responders rescue Shell Beach resident Ryan McCormick and his dog Rosie from the bottom of a cliff at Dinosaur Caves on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Laura Dickinson The Tribune
This story was originally published June 29, 2023 at 10:53 AM.
Stephanie Zappelli is the environment and immigration reporter for The Tribune. Born and raised in San Diego, they graduated from Cal Poly with a journalism degree. When not writing, they enjoy playing guitar, reading and exploring the outdoors.
