Blind Dave reveals sadness after guide dog Seamus dies on Christmas Day
"It's been so sad. He was a hero to me."
Charity fundraiser Blind Dave has spoken of his heartbreak at the death of his guide dog on Christmas Day.
The keen Baggies fan and well-known marathon runner lost his dog Seamus after vets discovered a large tumour around his spleen.
The dedicated eight-year-old German shepherd could have been battling with ill health for up to 12 months.
Seamus was semi-retired late last year but was still working with Dave over recent weeks.
"He was such a support for me over the years. He has been everywhere with me," said Dave, aged 61, of West Bromwich.
"In hindsight he had been with me over the last 12 months with this and he never made a whimper and has just kept me safe. He was just a beaut."
Dave had returned from his latest fundraising adventure - a trek along the Great Wall of China with family and supporters of The Albion Foundation - in October.
He said over just before Christmas Seamus had been taken unwell.
Seamus was taken to Willow Vets in Solihull and kept in overnight as Dave and his family stayed with him until 3.30am on Christmas morning.
Following an operation later that morning a tumour was discovered and Dave was left facing up to the sad loss of his beloved guide.
"We just thought it was the kindest thing to do to let him go," he said.
"It's been really tough."
Seamus had been Dave's fourth guide dog and had been with him for several years.
The charity champion, famed for becoming the first blind man to run seven marathons in seven continents in seven days, was diagnosed at the age of 10 with de-generative sight condition retinitas pigmentosa.
Dave had hoped for Seamus to remain at the family's pet while a new guide dog was trained to join him early this year.
But Seamus' death has left Dave without a guide dog until Spring at the earliest.
"It is like going blind again," he said. "Suddenly you feel like you're stuck in your home again."
"I've been relying on people to take me out and about."
Dave is working with the charity Guide Dogs to find a new companion.
Dogs usually live with a puppy trainer for 12 months before being given advanced training for a further two to three months.
Once matched the owner and guide dog train together for four weeks before being handed over permanently.
Dave is going to continue training ahead of his main fundraising challenge this year - taking on the Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa in June.
Before then he will take part in the Manchester and London marathons and also the annual Baggies Bike Challenge.
