Hero Dog Performs CPR To Save Owner During Massive Heart Attack

November 6, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Bonfield, Ontario.

In an extraordinary act of loyalty and instinct, Bear, a golden retriever-husky mix, saved his owner’s life during a severe medical emergency.

dog saves owner life stories
Darren Cropper and Bear / CTV News

About two years ago, Darren Cropper suffered a massive heart attack in the middle of the night, known as a “widowmaker,” which is often fatal. Remarkably, it was Bear, the family dog, who sensed the danger and jumped into action to save his owner’s life.

Darren’s wife, Janice, recalls being awoken by Bear, who had come upstairs to alert her. Concerned, she followed Bear downstairs and found Darren, her husband of 35 years, unconscious on the family room floor. “I came down and the dog had jumped over the couch and onto Darren, and I said, ‘Holy crap,’” Janice recalled.

As Janice called 911, paramedics quickly arrived and rushed Darren to the hospital in Sudbury, where doctors confirmed he had experienced one of the most severe forms of heart attack. He was later stabilized and underwent emergency triple bypass surgery, a five-hour procedure that ultimately saved his life.

Amazingly, Darren’s recovery may not have been possible if Bear hadn’t stepped in with his unique form of “CPR.”

Born from two former service dogs, Bear seemed to know something was wrong. According to Darren, he remembers waking up to Bear repeatedly jumping on his chest, which doctors believe provided just enough pressure to keep his heart going.

“I remember coming around, and he was on my chest. He wasn’t even trained to do it. He just did it,” Darren shared, crediting Bear’s intuitive act for keeping him alive.

Today, Darren is alive and healthy, forever grateful for Bear’s heroic actions. In recognition of his bravery, Bear was inducted into the 2024 Purina Animal Hall of Fame, celebrated for his life-saving instincts. Reflecting on his reunion with Bear after returning from the hospital, Darren said, “When I first saw him when I got home, he came right to me and jumped in my arms, and I just broke down crying.”

Watch the video below!