Rescuers spot lost woman's dog in Great Orme search Published duration 13 March 2015

media caption Dog's thermal image helped RAF rescue helicopter crew to find its owner

A woman airlifted to hospital after a major air and sea search in Conwy may not have been found if it were not for her loyal dog, rescuers say.

The 50 year old was found unconscious under an overhanging rock near Great Orme, Llandudno, after helicopter heat-seeking sensors detected her pet.

She was winched to safety and flown to hospital in Bangor on Thursday night.

RAF winchman and paramedic Ed Griffiths said: "Had we not seen the dog, we might not have found the woman."

The alarm was raised after the woman failed to return home from walking her border collie in bad weather.

Mr Griffiths added: "The dog just refused to move, even with the helicopter hovering above it. I expected it to run away, but it just stayed put.

"When I got to her [the owner], she was completely unresponsive. I was expecting to be bitten by the dog, but it just stayed there throughout. It was just a placid, mild-mannered animal. It just sat there."

A cliff rescue team later helped the dog to safety.

image copyright Steve Daniels/Geograph image caption The woman was found next to Great Orme

Related Topics Llandudno