16-07-2025
Boat owner 'heartbroken' over his dogs after Norfolk sinking
The owner of a boat that sank in a Norfolk harbour has told of his "heartbreak" after a dozen animals drowned or were later put a cabin cruiser that sank at King's Lynn, had four people, 15 dogs, 10 cats, two parrots, a snake and a tortoise on board. Eight dogs were put to sleep after being assessed by a vet. Two cats and the two birds had already vessel's owner said he had "lost everything".
After the 30ft (about 9m) vessel ran aground, four people were assessed by paramedics, an HM Coastguard spokesperson added: "Coastguard rescue teams from Hunstanton and Sutton Bridge were sent, alongside the Hunstanton RNLI lifeboat and an RNLI Hovercraft, and an emergency evacuation was conducted."
The boat's owner, identified only as "Anthony", said: "I can't fault the emergency services. They were just brilliant."My dogs are like my children. They are our lives. So for this to happen is heart-breaking."The eight dogs were that were put down showed signs of secondary drowning, where fluid builds up in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties and oxygen snake has been rehomed at a reptile rescue centre.
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