Derby team reunited with dog from cliff face rescue

A mountain rescue team has been reunited with the dog they located on a cliff face in a ground-breaking operation.

In April 2023, Derby Mountain Rescue were called to Thor’s Cave in the Peak District after Figgy the sprocker spaniel fell down the cliff.

After initially struggling to locate the animal, the team used a thermal imaging drone and quickly found her unharmed – prompting the greater use of drones in future call outs.

Figgy, along with her three new puppies Moo, Pig and Scoopy, surprised those who helped pluck her from danger at a specially arranged party at Brailsford Golf Course.

Figgy was walking with her owner Kayley Williams on a path above the beauty spot when the dog slipped and fell down the 400ft (120m) cliff.

Despite rope teams searching for two hours, there was no sign and staff were beginning to pack up when the drone was deployed.

Brendan O’Neill, drone team leader, said: “It was a turning point because earlier drones had not really been up to the environmental challenges.

“But four months before we got a new drone which was weather proof with thermal cameras on.

“After all the manual searching it took the drone 10 minutes to find Figgy.

“And straightaway that changed the perception of what the drone could do.”

Since then, the drone team has had three more successful finds in missing person searches and has been deployed 30 times in the last 12 months alone.

The team was not told of the real reason behind Sunday’s event at the club, which is currently its sponsor.

Mr O’Neill said: “Kayley had put together a video saying thank you for what they did and at the end of it revealed Figgy had had puppies.

“But once it ended, out came Figgy and the puppies for real and everyone was so happy to see them.”

Ms Williams, from Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire, said: “I just wanted to say thank you again and show them that they saved not just Figgy but, in the end, her pups too.

“They do such amazing work, its all voluntary, and anything I can do to tell people about them is worth doing.”