Dog owner tragically died during bid to rescue his pet from the sea

A DAD died after falling from a cliff in Cornwall while trying to rescue his dog, an inquest has heard.

- by MAXINE DENTON

Gary Conlon, 64, had attempted to slide down to retrieve his pet before the coastguard could arrive but slipped and fell into the water below.

An inquest into his death held at Truro Coroner's Court on June 11 heard how Mr Conlon, from Staffordshire, had been on a week-long holiday in the Polly Joke area, near Crantock, when he went out for a dog walk around the headland at about 8am on October 9 last year.

In a statement read out during the inquest, Daniel Beasley, who was also walking his dogs in the area at the time, said he saw a male about 60ft away on the headland waving his arms in his direction while saying something about dogs.

When Mr Beasley got closer, the man, who was later identified as Mr Conlon, told him that his dog had fallen into the sea and asked if he could help look for it.

Mr Beasley recalled spotting the dog swimming in a cave below, seemingly unharmed, so Mr Conlon asked if he could call 999.