Page 48 • The HERALD • 18th September 2025 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v Professional, safe ear wax removal service delivered in the comfort of your own home. We use microsuction, water irrigation and manual ear wax removal to suit the different needs of our clients. To book your appointment please call Gosia on 07591 036071 or email: info@watersideearcare.com Health, Beauty & Wellbeing TRAINEE HEARING DOG SAVES SOUTHAMPTON TRAINER’S LIFE DURING HEART ATTACK A trainee hearing dog is being hailed as a hero a er his quick actions helped save the life of his volunteer dog trainer during a medical emergency. Watson, a 15-month-old Cocker Spaniel puppy being trained by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, sprang into action when his volunteer dog trainer Jeannette Godsell, 58, from Southampton, began to feel unwell. Earlier in the day, Jeannette and Watson had been out with their trainer at Totton railway station to practise learning how to settle on a train journey. Shortly a er returning home, Jeannette began to feel unwell, so sat down on the sofa. Sensing something was wrong, Watson did what he had been trained to do in an emergency and nudged her repeatedly with his nose. “Watson is usually a really chilled dog”, explained Jeannette, “So I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t stop nudging me. I tried to go upstairs and lie down, but he blocked the stairs by standing in front of them. In the end, I gave up and sat back down on the sofa.” What happened next was extraordinary. Watson went into the garden and started barking persistently, something completely out of character for him. so arrived quickly, and of course, Watson was there. “My partner Chris took Watson to his mum’s, so that he could go with me to the hospital,” said Jeannette. As a special treat, she gave Watson scrambled egg on toast, so he was a very happy boy! “When I got home, Watson insisted on sleeping outside our bedroom door, which he’s never done before. The next morning, when Chris went downstairs to make a cup of tea, Watson jumped up on the bed and I woke up to a wet nose in my face! He’s not usually allowed on the bed, but he was that morning! I became a volunteer dog trainer for Hearing Dogs after recovering from PTSD. I came across a Facebook post asking for volunteer dog trainers. We’d always wanted a dog, and it felt like the perfect time. I’d lost a lot of confidence, and Watson has brought me back to life. In many ways, he’s saved me twice. Watson himself is very chilled about his hero status. He’s still the same cheeky chappy, who pinches our socks and tissues and puts his head in a slipper, then looks at me as if to say, ‘Nothing to see here!’, but when he has his Hearing Dogs jacket on, he’s 100% focused.” Now preparing to move on to the next stage of his training, where he’ll be matched with a deaf partner, Watson will soon be leaving Jeannette’s home - but not her heart. “He’ll always have a piece of my heart - the heart he helped protect. It might sound dramatic, but he literally saved my life. I want the world to know how amazing he is.” Anyone who would like to nd out how they can help train a little life-saver like Watson can email the Volunteering team at: volunteer@hearingdogs.org.uk, call: 01844 348100 or nd out more on the website: www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer Jeannette and Watson “That got my neighbour, Sue’s attention”, explained Jeannette. “She knew that Watson didn’t usually bark, so came round to investigate. She told me I didn’t look well and, despite me protesting that it was just indigestion, she called an ambulance.” Paramedics arrived within minutes and, a er an ECG, con rmed that Jeannette was having a heart attack. She was rushed to Southampton University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery to have a stent tted. “The doctors told me that there is a ‘golden hour’ when you have a heart attack and that if I had got to hospital half an hour later, there could’ve been a very different outcome. It’s terrifying to think what would’ve happened if Watson hadn’t stopped me from going upstairs, where I would’ve been alone.” A series of fortunate events helped save Jeannette’s life that day. Her neighbour Sue should’ve been at work, but her appointment had been cancelled. e ambulance was close by, e New Forest Branch of Parkinson’s UK welcome all Parkinson’s people and their Carers to join their fun chair-based exercise classes. ese classes are held Tuesdays at 10.30am and most Thursdays at 2pm at the Boldre War Memorial Hall, Pilley, SO41 5QG. £3 per class (Carers free). e New Forest Branch of Parkinson’s UK meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Boldre War Memorial Hall, Pilley, SO41 5QG from 2pm to 4.30pm. Friendly support, information and social activities are available for all people with Parkinson’s, their Carers, families and friends. All new members are very welcome. No membership fees, but voluntary donations always welcome. Contact: 07595 927299 or visit: www.parkinsonsnewforest.org.uk Parkinson’s Support
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