This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24zn80ng44o

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
XL bully dog attack on Fleetwood woman 'stopped with machete' XL bully dog attack on Fleetwood woman 'stopped with machete'
(about 2 hours later)
Witnesses described hearing 'gut-wrenching' screams as a woman was seriously injured by a dog Witnesses described hearing screams as the woman was seriously injured
Desperate neighbours including a "man with a machete" intervened to help stop an XL bully dog mauling a woman. Desperate neighbours including a man with a machete intervened to help stop an XL bully dog mauling a woman, eyewitnesses have said.
The woman, in her 40s, is being treated in hospital for serious injuries after the attack in Fleetwood, Lancashire, at about 16:45 BST on Thursday. The woman, in her 40s, was being treated in hospital for serious injuries after the attack in Fleetwood, Lancashire, which happened at about 16:45 BST on Thursday.
Witnesses said a number of people went to help after the dog escaped from a back door and went for the woman, who is believed to be related to its owner. Witnesses said a number of people went to help after the dog escaped from a back door and bit the woman, who is believed to be related to its owner.
The BBC understands the dog was wounded at the scene on Wingrove Road before being destroyed by Lancashire Police officers and then seized. The BBC understands the dog was severely wounded at the scene on Wingrove Road before being destroyed by Lancashire Police officers.
Witnesses told the BBC a man attacked the dog with the machete-style weapon after some residents had tried to run it over with a car. Eyewitness Georgina Thomas, 39, described the man "hacking" at the dog with the machete while it was "hanging off" the woman's arm.
They said the dog never usually left the address without a muzzle and it is believed the dog was legally kept. She said she spoke to him afterwards and he said he was upset about wounding the dog, but she said she believed he had "saved lives".
The witnesses also said the animal ran at the woman in front of a street full of children playing outside. Georgina Thomas, 39, saw the man's attempts to stop the dog
"There was a hell of a lot of kids playing in the street at the time," she said.
"With that dog being on the run he's only done what anyone would have done."
Ms Thomas, who works as a carer, said she and other neighbours got the heavily bleeding woman away from the house and reassured her until paramedics arrived.
She continued: "I think it's put me off dogs forever, to be honest.
"It was just devastating. I've never seen anything like that in my life before and it traumatised me and my kids."
Ms Thomas said the dog never usually left the address without a muzzle, and the BBC understands it was legally owned.
Melissa Taylor said she heard screams as neighbours went to helpMelissa Taylor said she heard screams as neighbours went to help
Melissa Taylor, 31, who lives near the scene, told the BBC she heard "gut-wrenching screams". The woman's family released a statement thanking the man with the machete for doing "what needed to be done", as well as other residents who intervened.
They said: "It was both courageous and heartbreaking for him to have to do what he did.
They said the dog was named Kilo and "was very loved by all who knew him and we are all shocked and devastated by this whole ordeal".
Melissa Taylor, 31, who lives near the scene, said she heard "gut-wrenching screams".
She said: "All the neighbours proper chipped-in to help the woman out, and there was a lot of guys trying to get the dog and people were rushing around.She said: "All the neighbours proper chipped-in to help the woman out, and there was a lot of guys trying to get the dog and people were rushing around.
"Prior to even the police arriving it was all the neighbours that helped, like people from down the road.""Prior to even the police arriving it was all the neighbours that helped, like people from down the road."
She said she did not leave her house to avoid any risk to her young children and her own dog, but described the sound of screaming as "horrible".
An XL bully is the largest kind of American bully dog.An XL bully is the largest kind of American bully dog.
Since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own one without an exemption certificate.Since 1 February 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own one without an exemption certificate.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.