Whizz to the rescue

After being trained to save lives as a puppy, Whizz the Newfoundland embarked on a noble career as a rescue dog. The gentle giant, who weighed in at an astounding 12st, spent his life patrolling the Bristol Channel and River Severn with the Royal Navy Rescue, the Severn Area Rescue Association and the Marine Volunteer Service. He would fling himself into the water for stricken swimmers to cling to his back and be dragged to safety.

Whizz sadly passed away in 2016, but was posthumously awarded the PDSA Order of Merit – known as the animal OBE – after saving the lives of nine people (and one dog!) during a heroic 10-year career.