For recipient Steve Beal, his hearing dog Yogi went above and beyond the call of duty in December in what was a potentially dangerous moment for Steve and his granddaughter, Emily.
It was just before Christmas last year when Steve and eight-year-old Emily were walking Yogi in their local park – which runs alongside the River Itchen in Southampton – when tragedy almost occurred.
Enjoying the winter weather, Steve let hearing dog Yogi off his lead for a run when suddenly, his footing completely gave way eventually leading him to fall down a nine-foot concrete slope running dangerously close to the riverbed.
Steve says: “I couldn’t stop myself falling down the slope to the river bed which was thick in mud. I fell onto a ledge which was inches away from the water and my walking stick went into the river.
“After laying there for a few seconds, I realised my granddaughter was screaming with fear – she later told me she thought I was dead. After shouting up to her that I was okay I told her to wait and not to worry.
“I noticed that Yogi was trying to come down the slippery slope to help me. He kept looking at ways of getting to me. Emily was still very upset and crying so I said to Yogi to go to her, which he did straight away.
“Yogi then sat with Emily but he was watching me all the time. I told Emily to put his lead on and to comfort each other which they did with Yogi letting Emily cuddle him throughout, though I could tell that all he wanted to do was get down to me. But as I told him to wait with Emily, he did just that.”
Steve then faced a difficult climb to safety which he admits was “slow and painful”. He was eventually met by his wife and after a trip to hospital, Steve found out that he had broken a wrist, bruised his ankle, hips and back and had several cuts from the fall.
Throughout Steve’s ordeal, Yogi was always conscious to his needs and requests.
As well as alerting Steve to sounds around the home and in public, Yogi’s presence continuously gives Steve the confidence to overcome the isolation that deafness can often bring.
Steve added: “The bond between Yogi and I is so strong. He is not just my hearing dog, but my hero too.”
