A Seaford para sailor was handed a lifeline when she rescued a one-year-old Golden Retriever and is now able to live her life to the fullest.

Jazz Turner, 25, and assistance dog Phoebe are one of four duos who have been nominated for The Kennel Club Hero Dog Award 2024 which recognises unsung canines from across the country.

Turner has sailed since the age of 13 but was diagnosed with the life-limiting progressive condition hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at 18.

Hero Support Dog Phoebe alerts Turner to fainting and oncoming seizures, allowing her to live a fully independent life, having competed for GB sailing for the past three years.

She said: “Phoebe is my lifeline, as my assistance dog she is mainly a medical alert dog, and it means I can be a normal 25-year-old.

“Without her, I wouldn’t be able to do anything, I’d be stuck at home all the time.

“She’s also my best friend and my companion, I couldn’t imagine life without her.

“I sail for GB as a para athlete and have been competing for them for the past three years.

“Phoebe comes sailing with me and alerts me if I need to head back to shore, she comes in the boat with me so I can focus on racing.”

Judges from The Kennel Club, one of the UK’s largest dog welfare organisations, selected the four inspiring finalists to go to the public vote, which went live this week.

Other nominees included a hearing dog who supports his young owner through anxiety and a search and rescue dog who locates survivors of humanitarian disasters across the world.

The winner will be announced by double Paralympic champion Libby Clegg at the Birmingham NEC and on Channel 4 on Sunday 10 March to round off a brilliant Crufts 2024 week.

Turner, who also works with Phoebe as part of a therapy dog team, said: “It feels insane to have been nominated for the Hero Dog Award, I don’t think of her as anything special because I’m so used to her now.

“It’s been an honour and she’s come on such a journey from the dog that I first rescued.

You wouldn’t recognise her now, she saves my life daily, so it’s great to give her the moment in the sun to be the star of the show which she likes.

“We go around care homes and hospitals, her speciality is that we work with people who have learning disabilities because she’s so calm.

“She brings comfort to those in hospitals specifically working in ICU because she’s so used to medical devices and doesn’t worry about machines.

“She brings love to everybody she meets, including patients and staff.”

Crufts, which celebrates dogs from all walks of life, takes place from 7-10 March at the NEC in Birmingham and tickets are available at crufts.org.uk