An active 70-year-old man from Poole, Dorset, has credited his loyal Labrador Beau with saving his life after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a beach run. The dramatic rescue unfolded on a wintry day between Christmas and New Year in 2024, when the man collapsed while sprinting along the sand after a sea swim.
Beau, a black Labrador, sprang into action upon seeing his owner slumped over a rock. He jumped up and down, barked frantically, and ran around, drawing the attention of a passerby, Claire Dashwood, who was walking about 100 metres away. Dashwood, a healthcare worker, rushed over and began CPR while Beau licked her face, seemingly encouraging her to continue.
Two doctors who were out walking their dog soon joined the effort, and the three kept the man's blood pumping until paramedics arrived. He was taken to Bournemouth Hospital, where a defibrillator was implanted near his heart. After a week in hospital, the man was reunited with Beau, who was overjoyed, barking and licking his face.
The man, who lost his wife Jo to cancer eight years ago, had moved from London to Poole for a fresh start and adopted Beau as a puppy. He now wears a transfer tattoo of a dog paw over his defibrillator as a tribute to his faithful companion.
