Dog, Good Samaritan Rescued After Cliff Plunge Near Hudson River

Authorities say a woman was walking her dog in Weehawken when the pup slipped through a guardrail and plunged down a steep cliff

Fire officials rescued a small dog that fell off a cliff and the Good Samaritan who got trapped trying to save it from a ledge at the bank of the Hudson River in New Jersey early Wednesday.

Authorities say a woman was walking her dog near Hamilton Park in Weehawken around 12:30 a.m. when the pup somehow slipped through a guardrail and plunged at least 25 feet down a steep embankment.

Fire officials said Louis Lopez, 19, happened to be walking by and scaled the cliff in an attempt to rescue the dog.

Lopez said the dog owner warned him, saying "No, don't jump over the fence."

But he did, sliding halfway down the embankment before he spotted the dog hanging by his leash from a tree.

A technical team with the North Hudson Fire Department used lights and rope to scale the cliff and safely rescue the dog and man after Lopez got trapped.

Both were treated for minor injuries and were expected to make a full recovery.

No emergency personnel were injured during the rescue.

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