A “wonder dog” saved her owner from death after barking manically and licking his face as he slipped into a diabetic coma.

Rescue dog Looby Loo came to owner Toby Snow’s aid during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The German Shepherd ran into his bed- room and barked and licked him until his girlfriend Mary Friend woke up and called 999.

The 55-year-old said: “I owe my life to that dog – the wonder dog.

“I don’t know how Looby Loo knew – maybe she has a sixth sense.

“But it was a very, very close shave. If she hadn’t come to my rescue I would be dead.”

He continued: “I had a period in hospital and I came back feeling a bit weak and needed recuperation.

“At about 6.30am on Tuesday I woke up – I was barely conscious and everything was very hazy. I felt this wet nose going hammer and tongs up and down my body. I realised I couldn’t move.

“Looby Loo had also woken up Mary who took one look at me and realised I was in a diabetic coma.

“She dialled 999 and started chucking glucose tablets down me – but my blood sugar stayed low.

“It was very, very serious. I know my own body and if Looby had not woken me up I would not have survived the morning.”

Paramedics arrived at the couple’s home in West Ham, near Pevensey, and immediately put Mr Snow, diagnosed with Type Two, insulin dependent diabetes at 40, on a glucose drip.

After an hour he began to regain strength.

“It really dawned on me then what a close shave it was, ” he said.

“Looby loves squeaky toys and I am going to get her one as a treat.”

Miss Friend, 53, got Loopy Loo, now seven, from Shoreham Dogs’ Trust when she was 11 months old.

She said: “It was horrible when I woke up and he was so ill. It was so frightening.”

His daughter, university student Susy Snow, 22, added: “She's a fantastic dog. I'm incredibly grateful to her.”

A Dogs’ Trust spokeswoman said: “This is an incredible story which really highlights the amazing role dogs can play in our lives.

“Getting a rescue dog can be a hugely rewarding experience and stories like this reveal just how loyal canine companions can be, especially when we need their help.”