By Ruby Shaw of 
Specialist lines crews arriving in Saint Clair's Cliffs Road, to rescue a woman and dog stranded on a cliffside. Photo: Supplied/ Otago Daily Times - Ruby Shaw
A major rescue operation ended a three-hour ordeal for a woman and a dog, trapped on a Saint Clair cliff after a recovery attempt gone awry.
Emergency services rushed to a Cliffs Road address at 5.45pm Sunday after reports of a woman stranded on a cliff.
A specialist lines rescue team from Fire and Emergency Dunedin Central worked with fire crews, police, Land Search and Rescue, Hato Hone St John and a rescue helicopter to carry out the rescue operation amid blustery winds, showers and fast-fading light.
A police spokesperson said the woman, who became stuck while trying to rescue a dog, was recovered safely at 8.50pm with no injuries.
The dog was with her and also appeared to be uninjured, she said.
The woman had been stuck on a ledge with the dog and, while she had not been in danger of falling, she had not able to climb back up, the spokeswoman said.
Rescuing the woman with the helicopter's winch was not feasible. Instead, the helicopter assisted by providing light, the police spokesperson said.
A FENZ spokesperson said officials at the scene reported "all is well" at 9pm.
Crews had managed to reach the woman and dog, put them in a harness and bring them up the cliff, he said.
"I don't believe there [were any injuries]; it was just a case of they couldn't get back up the hill."
- Otago Daily Times
