A mountain rescue worker has praised two heroic pet dogs for helping to save their owner after he collapsed whilst out on a hike.
After their 71-year-old owner collapsed and lost consciousness, it appears that the dogs acted on instinct – with one running ahead after another hiker, barking at them to sound the alarm.
The other stayed by its owner’s side to comfort him and keep him safe as he passed out close to Keswick.
Keswick Mountain Rescue worker Rob Grange said he had never seen pet dogs raise the alarm like that before, and that usually, it takes his team years to train them to act like this.
The incident occurred over the weekend, whilst the man was walking over Braithwaite How.
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Soon after he collapsed on Saturday, rescuers reported a black labrador running after another walker.
The dog then barked at the woman, who they had recently passed, as if it was “trying to get her to return”.
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After turning around, the female hiker soon discovered the man lying on the floor with his trusty golden retriever at his side.
Image: Keswick Mountain Rescue
She swiftly called for help, which led to the man being taken to the hospital for further care and assessment by the North West Ambulance Service.
Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, Mr Grange said:
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It’s wonderful to see dogs doing it off their own backs and completely instinctively.
“We get the dogs to do exactly the same thing but we spend years training those natural traits to make sure they do it completely reliably.
“It’s not an unusual thing for a dog to do, but it’s just the fact a completely untrained dog decided to do this that is absolutely wonderful.
“I’ve not come across it in 10 years of mountain rescue.”
Volunteers from Keswick Mountain Rescue were on hand at the scene alongside paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service.
Feature image – Keswick Mountain Rescue
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd November 2021 
