A COAST GUARD TEAM has just rescued a lone beagle puppy who had been trapped in a disused mine in West Cork.

Three other pups were rescued by the crew from Toe Head Coast Guard yesterday — but their little pal scampered off, further down the mine, after he was spooked by all the activity.

Richard Hurley, the officer in charge of the team, confirmed that an operation to rescue the one remaining puppy was wrapped up shortly after 2pm.

The pup is now “doing fine” after his owner was lowered down the shaft in the company of a Coast Guard volunteer, he said.

One of the pups rescued yesterday.

The dog was found quickly, and the two men were at the bottom for “less than ten minutes”. The pup popped into a bag for the short journey to the surface.

As part of yesterday’s operation, only one crew-member was lowered into the 80ft shaft, as the team were unsure how stable conditions would be.

The three other puppies were rescued using a bucket and a rope.

All photos: Toe Head Coast Guard/Facebook

Video and photos: Coast Guard rescues a dog at Howth cliff