Fire rescue crew’s trauma therapy dog helps save suicidal woman’s life
Rescuers in the United Kingdom say a trauma therapy dog quickly did what humans were struggling to do — help save a suicidal woman’s life.

[June 17, 2021: Josh Shavit]
Rescuers in the United Kingdom say a trauma therapy dog quickly did what humans were struggling to do -- help save a suicidal woman's life.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recounted the incident on their Twitter account, saying it happened Tuesday near Exeter in England.
Rescuers were trying to speak with a young woman who they said "was thinking of taking her own life on a bridge" over a highway.
Multiple agencies and negotiators were on the scene, but officials said the situation was becoming more dire.
That's when one of the fire crews had the idea to bring along Digby, their "defusing" dog.
"Digby helps crews who have been exposed to trauma during talking therapy 'diffusing sessions," they explained.
"When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately swung her head round to look, and smiled," they said.
Rescuers said that began a conversation about Digby and his role with the fire service.
"She was asked if she would like to come and meet Digby if she came back over the railings, which we are pleased to say she did," they wrote.
Digby's story and happy ending for the woman quickly resonated with people online. The tweets soon went viral, garnering more than 63,000 likes in less than 24 hours.
Thousands of dog lovers praised Digby for a job well done, calling him a hero.
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Tags: #Global_Good_News, #Dogs, #Heroism, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News

Joseph Shavit
Head Science News Writer | Communicating Innovation & Discovery
Based in Los Angeles, Joseph Shavit is an accomplished science journalist, head science news writer and co-founder at The Brighter Side of News, where he translates cutting-edge discoveries into compelling stories for a broad audience. With a strong background spanning science, business, product management, media leadership, and entrepreneurship, Joseph brings a unique perspective to science communication. His expertise allows him to uncover the intersection of technological advancements and market potential, shedding light on how groundbreaking research evolves into transformative products and industries.