An 84-year-old pensioner has tragically died from his horror injuries after he was viciously attacked by an XL Bully – which was shot 19 times. Armed police descended on Bardsley Avenue, Warrington, at around 6.40pm on February 24, following reports the pensioner had been left seriously injured in an attack which took place in the front garden of someone’s home.
The man was taken to hospital, however despite the best efforts of all those involved, the man died on Sunday, March 30, in hospital. Detectives said the victim “fought so hard” since the attack but said “sadly his injuries were too much”. His next of kin are aware and they are being supported by specialist officers.
The victim had been walking along the road when he was attacked by the dog which had reportedly escaped from a nearby home, Liverpool Echo reported. Armed police killed the dog outside the property and Cheshire Police confirmed firearms officers fired 19 shots at the dogs due to “the sheer size and ferocity of these animals”.
Following the incident, Sean Garner, of Bardsley Avenue, Warrington was charged with one count of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing serious injury and two counts of possession or custody of a dog to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applied, namely an XL bully.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been informed of the victims’ death and will now determine if there are any changes to the charges, Cheshire Police said.
Detective Inspector Simon Mills, of the Major Investigation Team at Cheshire Police, said: “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time.
“The victim has fought so hard since the attack but sadly his injuries were too much, and despite the best efforts of the specialist medical teams who have supported him since the attack, he has now passed away.
“To endure such pain and anguish at the hands of an animal is unimaginable, and I cannot begin to comprehend the distress that his family are currently suffering following such an horrific incident.
“Nobody should have to go through what they have experienced, and our specialist officers are providing them with the support they need at this truly awful time.”
Neighbours told how they were left left “traumatised” by the attack. Vic, who lives across the street from the property where the attack happened, and he “saw everything happen”. He said: “I was looking through the kitchen window and saw a guy lying on the floor in the driveway over the road. I thought he’d had a heart attack. Then I saw this massive dog.
“I ran over and battered it with my yard brush. I cracked it over the head, but it didn’t work. It wouldn’t get off him. I should have got a knife from the kitchen, really, but I didn’t think. I just grabbed the brush. If I’d had a gun handy I’d have used that.
“The police arrived and we were told to get in. We had to move away because the dog could have attacked us. All the neighbours were out in the street. I went back inside and looked through the window and saw the police shoot the dog dead.
“There were four or five shots.” Vic added: “I’m traumatised by what happened. There was blood on my boots and over my brush. It was everywhere.”
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