A heroic dog is being praised after finding an unconscious man who had fallen into bushes.

Rachael Swadling was walking her sister’s Staffordshire bull terrier Chelsea in Cornwallis Playground, Maidstone, when she made the discovery.

The 18-year-old noticed the one-and-a-half-year-old was acting differently, usually she would run around when let off the lead, but on Wednesday afternoon – also National Dog Day – she kept barking and returning to the same area.

Miss Swadling, from Gillingham, said: “It was weird, she normally charges around when we go for a walk, this time she wasn’t interested in her toys and just kept going back to this one spot.

“My first instinct was to pull the guy out of the bush onto the grass and call the ambulance, after paramedics arrived the man was put on oxygen – he started to come to and the paramedics told me they would take it from there.”

She added the man looked to be in his 50s and there was no indication what was wrong with him – there were no signs he had been drinking.

South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics attended the scene for around 20 minutes after they were called just after 2pm.

No serious injuries were recorded and the man was not taken to hospital.

Chelsea’s proud owner, Jessica Edwards, of Bower Lane, Maidstone, said: “She hasn’t done anything like this before – but if you’re crying or in pain she’ll comfort you until you’re better. She’s so caring, even towards strangers.

“I’ve never met a dog like Chelsea. She’s such an amazing pet.

“She’s absolutely spoilt rotten and is amazing with people, I couldn’t ask for a better dog and we’re so proud of her.”