Milton Keynes man opens up after his dogs falls off cliff

Alfie, an eight-year-old German shorthaired pointer, escaped the lead and ran over into some bushes for a sniff - not spotting the steep drop on the other side.

Owner Daniel Wright, who is from Milton Keynes, looked on in horror as he plummeted off the ledge, smacking onto the rocks below.

Along with fellow walkers, he scrambled to reach the injured dog, and with the help of police and rescuers, carried it to safety on a stretcher.

Alfie the dog (SWNS)

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The poorly pooch suffered a fractured elbow and pelvis, and needed a metal plate fitted in a £6,000 op.

But just two days later, the pet he was discharged and went home to recover - and will be keeping away from walking trails for a while.

Daniel said: "I didn't realise the height change on the other side, or I would have not let Alfie get ahead.

"He means everything to us, when we go on trips and suchlike we plan it so that we can take him with us.

"He is a member of our family, not a pet.

Alfie was injured after falling off a cliff (SWNS)

"To have lost him in these kind of circumstances would have been very difficult to get over."

Daniel, his wife Jade, 44, and oldest daughter Isabelle, 13, were walking the Four Waterfalls trail in the Brecon Beacons with the family dog last Tuesday (03/08).

After about an hour-and-a-half, Alfie slipped the lead and as they headed towards the second falls, wandered over to some bushes, which hid the edge of a cliff.

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Civil engineering site manager Daniel said: "As Alfie slipped he sort of fell through the bushes, he yelped as he fell, then I heard the people below sort of gasping in horror and screaming.

The poor pooch was badly injured (SWNS)

"I also heard the noise of him landing on a hard surface."

Daniel, 34, looked down at his dog, which was shaking violently and yelping in pain.

He said: "I remember thinking the worst as I scrambled down the rocks and I was praying in my mind for him to be okay.

"Alfie was sort of standing up though he could not hold his own weight up properly.

"I was in a panic but still knew I had to stay calm on one level of my mind."

Other walkers helped Daniel wrap up Alfie and carry him back over to the footpath.

Dyfed-Powys police were called who in turn alerted Central Beacons Mountain Rescue and arrived to pick up Alfie in under an hour.

He was in good hands (SWNS)

He continued: "I think we went through every emotion during that time from panic, regret, guilt and just an overriding concern for Alfie, "I was convinced he would have catastrophic internal injuries after a fall from that height."

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Alfie was taken away on a stretcher and driven to a vets in Merthyr Tydfil for an x-ray and surgery.

Daniel said: "He is very much back to his old self and is already showing signs of frustration at not being able to go out.

"So many people offered their help both on the way up and while we were waiting for the rescue team it really is something that restores your faith in human nature.

He's now on the mend (SWNS)

"My main motivation to get Alfie's story out is to promote the fantastic work that the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team did on that day and does on a daily basis."