Support dog Lyn helps former Army medic get back on his feet

It’s often said dogs are a man’s best friend, but the relationship Chris Buswell has with his twoyear-old golden retriever, Lyn, means so much more.

Four years ago, Chris, a former A r my me d i c , suffered the sudden death of his son, Angus, triggering not only grief but also post- traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) from his time overseas.

Lyn supports Chris when he’s at his lowest, having been trained to comfort the 50- year- old during periods of anxiety and depression.

“Lyn is a stabilising presence and gives me purpose,” said Chris, who lives near Peterhead, with his wife, Karla, 51, and is also dad to Abigail, 25.

“I suffer from anxiety and depression, and my anxiety just plummeted as soon as I got Lyn.

“When you stroke a dog, you feel relaxed and your blood pressure goes down.”

Although not stationed in war zones, as an Army medic Chris was often the first responder to acc idents and emergencies.

At the time, he coped by busying himself with family and work life – howe ver, the loss of Angus, who took his own life at 22, brought up Chris’ decades-old trauma, and he began to struggle with PTSD.

After his son’s death, Chris continued to suffer from poor mental health and his GP recommended he reach out to Bravehound, a charity providing support dogs for ex-service personnel.

After being matched with Lyn, Chris felt his life start to turn around. He said: “She’s made a huge difference to my life.”

Chris Buswell and Lyn, the dog who supports him.