Danger warning as dog swept off Thurso pier during storm
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A DOG was reportedly swept off a pier and had to be rescued by its owner as 20ft waves crashed into the breaker at Thurso Harbour during storm Abigail.
A local surfer, who captured the moments before on camera, is now calling for people to use common sense and not put their lives and others in danger by walking on the pier during rough seas.
The photographer, who did not want to be named, took images of a man walking onto the pier while carrying a child on his back with what appears to be a black west Highland terrier on Friday.
He claims the dog was washed off the pier into the River Thurso before the owner managed to pluck the dog out to safety.
Recalling the events, the surfer said: “It was just ridiculous to watch them standing there at full tide.
“The swell was at least 20ft and I saw the man noticed a big wave was coming and he was forced to run and the dog was taken off into the river.
“The man was on his belly trying to rescue the dog when it came up high enough in the water to grab.
“When I saw the dog washed out to sea, I put on my wet suit and was ready to go on my surfboard and swim out to get it.
“Luckily, the guy managed to grab it and the dog appeared to be okay before he ran off.”
He said shortly after the incident there were a few more dog owners who put their lives and their dogs at risk by standing on the pier.
“Straight after that incident, there was another man with a Border collie which got swept off its feet at the pier but it was only luck it didn’t fall into the ocean,” he said.
“There was also a couple with four dogs that did the same thing – it was terrifying to watch.”
The man contacted the Caithness Courier to help send out a warning to dog owners as he fears one day someone could be killed. He also feels Highland Council should highlight the danger.
“I just want to put out the message, if it looks dangerous, it is dangerous,” he said.
“If you’re going to let your dog go into places in high swell, there is a good chance it could drown.
“The council need to put up signs warning people not to walk on to the pier during high tides.
“If this continues to happen, it is only a matter of time before somebody is swept off and dies.”
See more storm Abigail photos in today's Caithness Courier.
