In the port city of Swansea, Wales, a black retriever earned nationwide fame not for tricks or obedience, but for leaping into the icy waters of the docks to save lives. Known as Swansea Jack, this dog is recorded to have rescued 27 people between 1931 and 1937. He was not trained for rescue. He simply heard cries from the water and responded—again and again.
Early Life by the Water
Swansea Jack was born around 1930 and may have come from Newfoundland, though his build more closely resembled a Flat-Coated Retriever. He was initially owned by Taulford Davies and later rehomed by William Thomas.
Jack lived near the River Tawe and the North Dock, areas where drowning accidents were unfortunately common. His first known rescue occurred in June 1931, when he pulled a 12-year-old boy from the water. That incident went unreported, but the next rescue, seen by a crowd, made headlines and began Jack’s fame.
Public Recognition and Awards
After his second rescue, Jack’s photo appeared in local newspapers and Swansea Council awarded him a silver collar. Over the next few years, he saved dozens more—young and old, strangers and locals. In 1936, the Star newspaper in London awarded him the title “Bravest Dog of the Year.”
He was given a silver cup by the Lord Mayor of London and became the only dog in history to receive two bronze medals from the National Canine Defence League, now known as Dogs Trust.
Final Days and Widespread Attention
Swansea Jack died on 2 October 1937 after ingesting rat poison. It remains unknown whether the poisoning was accidental or deliberate.
His death made national news, with newspapers such as the Nottingham Journal reporting he had saved 29 lives. Swansea residents raised funds for his burial, and a monument was placed on the city’s promenade near St Helen’s Rugby Ground.
A Permanent Mark on Swansea’s Shoreline
Though his actions were never part of any official service or uniform, Jack’s repeated rescues made a lasting impression on his community.
His memorial still stands in Swansea, a stone reminder of a black retriever who, between 1931 and 1937, dove into the docks whenever someone cried for help.
In 1930s Swansea, a black retriever named Swansea Jack became known across Britain—not for tricks, but for pulling people from the water.
Between 1931 and 1937, he reportedly saved 27 lives from the River Tawe and the city docks, earning national fame…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/rGKAGFiV31
— Fascinating True Stories (@TigerDetective) August 4, 2025