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'It felt like peace' - Thunder made Ely's final months easier

Jess Lord
BBC News
Reporting fromHornsea
Family handout Three-year-old Ely stood next to Thunder. He has very short hair and is wearing a multicoloured T-shirt with a red and yellow heart in the middle. He has a huge grin and is looking directly at the camera. They are at Ely's home with toys in the background.Family handout
Ely, who died of a brain tumour in 2024 aged three, pictured with Thunder in 2023

Adrian Ashworth and his Siberian husky, Thunder, can often be found enjoying a walk along Hornsea Beach in their home town in East Yorkshire.

It's a world away from Thunder's main role as a therapy dog, often visiting seriously ill people in care homes and hospitals.

So far he has spent time with 53 people receiving end-of-life care.

One of those was three-year-old Ely, who died in February 2024 from a brain tumour, but thanks to Thunder his final months were made that little bit easier.

Adrian Ashworth is wearing a navy jacket and dark grey trousers. He has white hair, a grey beard, and tattoos on his hands. He is smiling brightly, knelt on a beach and cuddling a large grey/white husky dog who has dark eyes, and his mouth wide open.
Thunder with owner Adrian Ashworth on Hornsea beach

He was introduced to Thunder in October 2023, after his family had been told his brain tumour was terminal.

For the next five months, Mr Ashworth drove Thunder from Hornsea to Sheffield, once a week, to visit Ely, mum Vicki, his father Steven and older brother Guy, aged nine.

"Every visit was beautiful. We got love and cuddles with the most beautiful animal you could ever meet. It just felt like peace," Vicki said.

Steven added: "Ely used to climb all over him. For that hour and a half, you'd forget about everything."

Guy also enjoyed the visits and said he loved Thunder's colour and fur "because it's really soft".

Thunder began comforting seriously ill people in 2016, during a care home visit.

He and owner Mr Ashworth were invited into the room of a very unwell resident. Thunder immediately jumped on the bed and placed his paw on to the man's chest.

Mr Ashworth said he opened his eyes, looked at Thunder and said "there's an angel", before he died.

Adrian and Thunder are currently working with four people and their families across the country, who have received a terminal diagnosis.

From left, Ely's dad Steven, who is wearing a camouflage coat and a dark green woolly hat. Next to him is mum Vicki, who is wearing a long black coat and bright blue and pink bobble hat. She is stood next to Adrian, who is wearing a navy jacket, and dark grey trousers. All three are smiling and have their arms around each other. In front of them, at their feet, is Ely's brother Guy, who has his arm around Thunder. They are on Hornsea beach.
Ely's family, from left, father Steven, mother Vicki and older brother Guy, with Adrian Ashworth and Thunder on Hornsea beach

Thunder won the animal award at BBC Radio Humberside's 2024 Make A Difference Awards. Nominations have opened for 2025.

Mr Ashworth said: "I am so proud of him. He deserves it [award]. I got quite emotional.

"He's just so special, to everybody he meets. It's not a joke when we say everybody loves Thunder.

"He is so much more than just a dog."

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