Golden Retriever Alerts Family to Cardiac Arrest, Helping Save Owner’s Life

A four-year-old golden retriever named Polly from County Fermanagh has been recognized as a ‘CPR hero’ by the British Heart Foundation after helping save her owner Adam Cooke’s life. Adam, 37, suffered a cardiac arrest in his sleep last year. Polly’s barking woke his wife, Hannah, who found Adam breathing irregularly before he stopped completely. Hannah, a social services worker, quickly performed CPR until paramedics arrived, saving his life. Adam was shocked seven times with a defibrillator en route to the hospital and spent six days there before waking up. He was later diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. The reunion between Adam and Polly was emotional, highlighting the deep bond between them. The story has been used by the British Heart Foundation to encourage CPR training, emphasizing the critical minutes following a cardiac arrest. Experts note that dogs can sense human health emergencies through their heightened senses, and Polly’s actions illustrate this remarkable ability. Both Hannah and Adam praise Polly as an essential part of their family, describing her as attentive, loving, and protective. Polly received her CPR hero medal at her favorite walking spot since she could not travel to London for the event.