‘Max is my eyes’: Paralympian says post-Brexit rules stop him flying with his guide dog

Mar Gunnarsson, a Paralympic swimmer from Iceland who is studying in Manchester, said Max, his guide dog, is not recognised as a service animal by the UK authorities. Photograph: Mar Gunnarsson

A Paralympic swimmer due to compete in this summer’s Games has said his career is at risk after a post-Brexit policy change barred him from flying in and out of the UK with his guide dog.

Mar Gunnarsson, a visually impaired Icelandic national studying in Manchester, has been unable to fly to sporting championships to represent his country because his guide dog is not recognised as an assistance animal by the UK authorities.