Champ saved my life, and I am eternally grateful," Andrew Kuzyk from Georgia told Newsweek, recounting how his dog raised the alarm when he suffered a sudden heart attack.

Kuzyk, 61, has faced numerous health challenges throughout his life, most recently being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Despite his ill health, the heart attack came as a shock to him and his family. "My health has not been good, and I was already disabled before the heart attack," he said. "[But] the heart attack came out of the blue."

One day, while watching TV with his dog two-legged rescue dog Champ on his lap, the former retail manager felt that something wasn't right. "I felt my chest tighten, and Champ, sensing something was wrong, lay on my chest, whimpering more as the pain increased," Kuzyk recalled.

Prompted by Champ's behavior and whimpering, Kuzyk's wife quickly called an ambulance. This swift action was crucial in saving Kuzyk's life.

During the ensuing medical crisis, Andrew's heart stopped beating twice during open-heart surgery. "Champ's ability to detect the heart attack simply came out of the blue," Kuzyk said. Despite not being trained for such emergencies, Champ's instincts and his bond with Kuzyk meant he sensed something was wrong.

According to The American Heart Association someone in the U.S. will have a heart attack every 40 seconds. There are about 1,905 deaths from heart disease each day in the U.S., including heart attacks.

Dogs are known for their heightened senses and can detect various health issues. They can sense emotions, illnesses, and changes in physiological states.

But medical alert dogs like cardiac alert dogs require intensive training. A cardiac service dog is specially trained to detect changes in heart rate and blood pressure. According to Service Dog Training School International (SDTSI), they will warn their handlers through pawing, nudging or barking at them when an event occurs.

Champ, aged two, has his own struggles, too. Born without his front paws, he spends much of his time on his hind legs. His owners previously attempted a fundraising round to raise money for a wheelchair for the dog, but it was unsuccessful.

Now well on the road to recovery from his heart attack, Kuzyk finds his bond with Champ is stronger than ever, and he remains grateful for his pet's quick thinking.

"The bottom line is Champ has saved my life from certain death. Champ and I have a bond that will last all our lives," Kuzyk said.

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