A desperate dog owner thought his pooch would drown.

But coastguards were more concerned the pet owner would attempt to go in the sea after his animal and actually get into difficulty.

A lifeboat spokesman said: “Eastbourne’s inshore lifeboat was launched on Wednesday afternoon in response to a desperate request from Dover Coastguard who had received a call from a man whose aged pet had got into difficulties whilst swimming in Pevensey Bay.

“Concerned that the distraught owner of the dog might enter the water in an attempt to rescue his pet Dover Coastguard requested the launch of Eastbourne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat.

“Following a rapid assembly and launch by the volunteer crew the boat was stood down just minutes into the service when the dog, as is not unusual in these cases, found its own way ashore.”