07/05/2026
Personal message from Tone, director of the Luck’s Yard Clinic and The Octagon Clinc.
Finding Help at Sea
Dear all,
When i lost my husband and chiropractor Stephen Hughes 22 months ago, something unexpected happened. Just a week later, a kind stranger reached out to tell me about an organisation called Svenska Hundenheten (The Swedish Dog Unit).
Led by Fred Lestéros, their work is extraordinary. Using knowledge of geography, weather, wind, and water movement, they can estimate where a person may be found.
Fred then works alongside his specially trained dog, using highly refined scent detection to identify particles in the air that can lead back to the point where someone entered the water.
With the help of a friend, we then set up a crowdfunding page to help us . The response was overwhelming, so much kindness and generosity when we needed it most.
As many of you know, Steve was found two days before the planned search. But I often think how much it would have helped to know about this organisation sooner.
The uncertainty we lived with for four weeks, not knowing if we would ever find him, is something I struggle to put into words. What you long for in those moments is closure.
In Steve’s honour, and in gratitude to everyone who supported us, I wanted to do something that could help others facing that same unimaginable uncertainty, and to help make this organisation better known.
So here is what we are doing.
Svenska Hundenheten are now purchasing and training a new German Shepherd puppy called Luke, who will continue this vital work.
He will be trained in the same specialised way, developing the unique scent-detection ability needed to help locate people in water.
I have contributed two-thirds of the cost of bringing Luke into this work.
If you have experienced a similar loss, or know someone who has, or simply feel moved to support a cause that brings answers and closure to families, we would be so grateful for your help.
And if you feel able, please do share this message, it really does make a difference.
With gratitude and humility,
Tone & Svenska Hundenheten
You can find more information and donate here:
https://4fund.com/sv/mp34rm -modal?utm_medium=social&utm_source=whatsapp&utm_campaign=sharing_button