A 61-YEAR-OLD man has paid tribute to the emergency services who came to his rescue, when he and his dog found themselves trapped on the cliff face at Lavernock Point in Penarth.

An RAF helicopter, a search and rescue team from Penarth Coastguard and two Penarth RNLI lifeboats raced to save David Perkins and his pet border collie, Jack, after high tides and crashing waves left the pair stranded near St Mary’s Well Bay.

The alarm was raised by Mr Perkins' granddaughter, Taylor, at around 6pm on March 30.

The nine-year-old just managed to make her way back to dry land before the high seas made it impossible for Mr Perkins and Jack to walk around the base of the cliff.

Mr Perkins, who lives in Barry, said: “It was terrifying because I can’t swim and Jack’s scared of water.

“When we first got to the cliffs the sea was more than 20 feet away so I never thought it would be a problem.

“But within minutes the water had reached us.

“I shouted to Taylor to go, but when I turned around Jack was sitting there like a lemon.

“We tried to get across but the waves were smashing against the cliffs on both sides - I’d never seen waves like them.

“In the end we just managed to make it to a ledge but we were well and truly trapped.”

The pair took refuge and Mr Perkins, who regularly holidays in Snowdonia, tried to raise the alarm.

“I carry a whistle with me and I blew it until I almost fainted - for nearly an hour - but the wind was howling and it was useless,” he said.

“I started to panic because it was getting dark and I was terrified something had happened to Taylor.

“The waves were crashing against us and one came right over my head.

“I closed my eyes and hoped.

“To be honest I didn’t want to open them again because I thought Jack might have been washed away.

“But thankfully he was ok, and it was about then that I saw two boats coming round the Bay.”

But the two RNLI Lifeboats were unable to reach the pair, who were clinging to a ledge 15 feet above the water - and members of Penarth Coastguard, who had also joined the rescue attempt, decided it was too dangerous to attempt a rope rescue from the clifftop.

An RAF helicopter was called and, after one failed attempt, managed to winch owner and dog to safety.

Mr Perkins said: “When the helicopter set me down on the clifftop I just fell to my knees and burst into tears.

“I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me and Jack on the day, and to the lovely couple who took Taylor in when she reached Lavernock Point.”

Penarth Coastguard Station Officer, Paul Gallone, said: “This was a dramatic rescue with a happy outcome and shows how well the three emergency services work together. “Owing to the tidal and cliff conditions at Lavernock Point a helicopter extraction was the safest option.”

Helm of the Penarth RNLI Atlantic 85, Karl Lawrence, said: "If a recovery by air had not been possible, then the lifeboat would have been able to anchor off St Mary’s Well Bay, pick the casualty up and, because of the challenging sea conditions, would have transported him on a somewhat rough and wet ride to the Cardiff Barrage.”

Mr Perkins, who says he won’t be returning to Lavernock Point to walk Jack, added: “People have said to me since that it was an experience - but it’s one I never want to repeat!”