A man who suffered a cardiac arrest on an empty beach says he is alive today because of his devoted dog.
David Howarth, 71, collapsed on Sandbanks beach in Poole, Dorset, after going for a swim with only his black labrador, Beau, nearby. With no people around, Beau began running along the beach and barking loudly, drawing the attention of Claire Dashwood, 65, who was walking with her partner about 100 metres away.
Dashwood, a healthcare assistant from Bournemouth, realised something was wrong when she spotted Howarth lying on his back. She called emergency services as two off-duty doctors from Bournemouth Hospital, who were also on the beach, began CPR until paramedics arrived.
Howarth made a full recovery in hospital and later had a defibrillator implanted near his heart. He has since commemorated Beau’s actions with a pawprint tattoo placed over the device. Speaking one year on, Howarth said he feels he owes Beau his life and described those who helped him as his “angels.”
Dashwood says Beau never left Howarth’s side and calmly licked her while she tried to help. Now, she carries a dog toy whenever she goes to the beach, just in case she runs into Beau again.
The story is one of two recent cases highlighting heroic dogs. In Wales, a golden retriever named Maple alerted neighbours when her owner, 29-year-old Samantha Forrster, blacked out at home in Ebbw Vale due to hypoglycaemic shock related to type 1 diabetes. Neighbours heard Maple barking, jumped the fence, and helped Forrster until she recovered.
Forrster’s partner believes Maple may have learned the behaviour during play, but says there is no doubt the dog’s instincts saved her life.
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