A loyal canine companion turned hero when a dog owner’s leisurely walk on a Dorset beach took a sudden turn for the worse.

David Howarth was strolling along the tranquil Sandbanks beach in Poole after a refreshing swim when he unexpectedly collapsed.

Fortunately, his devoted Labrador, Beau, was by his side. Sensing something was amiss, Beau energetically bounced on Mr. Howarth and darted around the sand, barking to draw attention.

The dog’s unusual behavior caught the eye of a passerby, who quickly intervened, ultimately saving the 71-year-old’s life.

Claire Dashwood, who was out for a walk with her partner, noticed five-year-old Beau beside Mr. Howarth and rushed over to assist.

Along with her partner, Paul Harrold, Dashwood turned the non-breathing Mr. Howarth onto his back and initiated CPR, guided by a paramedic over the phone.

Two off–duty doctors, Rachel Hall and Chris Hovell, who were walking on the prom, spotted the scene unfolding and came to help, taking turns with Ms Dashwood, 65, to carry out compressions. 

When paramedics arrived, Mr Howarth was shocked with a defibrillator three times before he began to show signs of life. 

David Howarth, pictured with his Labrador Beau who was with him when he collapsed 

David Howarth collapsed when walking along an empty Sandbanks beach in Poole after enjoying a dip in the sea

Beau jumped up and down on Mr Howarth, ran around on the sand and barked to draw attention when his owner collapsed 

He was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors implanted a defibrillator near his heart. 

He was discharged after a week, and has made a full recovery.  

Speaking of the incident, Mr Howarth said: ‘I feel I owe Beau my life. I feel like I’ve won the lottery. I have this feeling of euphoria.

‘I feel extremely high–spirited, upbeat, optimistic and incredibly thankful for Beau and the people who went out of their way to save me.

‘I call them my angels. Every day I feel like the bubble will burst but it’s a year on and it hasn’t.

‘I’m just so glad to be alive, to be here, to have another chance.’

Ms Dashwood said she thought Beau was playing on the beach at first, and only realised something was wrong when she saw Mr Howarth on his back. 

‘He was dead, purple and freezing cold,’ she said. ‘I checked his pulse and his airway but there was nothing.

‘I was aware of lots of people around us saying, ‘he’s dead, he’s gone’, but I just blocked it all out and kept going.

‘The dog could have growled at me or attacked me but he kept on licking me. He knew I was helping David.

‘Beau is my little hero. Every time I see him, he licks my face – and I never let a dog lick my face!’ 

Claire Dashwood was walking with her partner when she spotted Beau next to Mr Howarth

Two off–duty doctors, Rachel Hall and Chris Hovell, who were walking on the prom, spotted the scene unfolding and came to help

Mr Howarth was taken to hospital where doctors implanted a defibrillator near his heart

Ms Hall, one of the doctors who stopped to help, added that she was ‘genuinely astonished with the outcome because David was completely gone when we saw him on the beach.’

Sam Kennard, community defibrillator manager at the British Heart Foundation said the story is a stark reminders of ‘how crucial it is to act fast in an emergency.’ 

‘Lives were saved because someone recognised the signs of cardiac arrest and started CPR immediately,’ they said. 

‘Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.’