What we know as man, 84, dies in hospital after XL Bully attack
A pensioner has died in hospital over a month after being badly injured in an XL bully attack in Cheshire.
Armed police descended on Bardsley Avenue, Warrington, on the evening of Monday, February 24, following reports of a dog attack in the front garden of someone's home.
Two dogs were killed by officers, who were forced to fire a total of 19 shots to bring the attack to a halt, while a third, smaller dog was also seized.
An 84-year-old man was taken to hospital, however, despite the best efforts of medics, he died of his injuries on Sunday.
Detectives said the victim "fought so hard" following the attack but that "sadly, his injuries were too much".
The victim had been walking along the road when he was attacked by a dog, which had reportedly escaped from a nearby home.
Armed police reached the scene at around 6.40pm and fired 19 shots due to the "sheer size and ferocity of these animals".
While Cheshire Police only mentions a single XL bully attacking the pensioner in its statement from this morning, the force said in February that two dogs, believed to be XL bullies, had been destroyed by officers (one inside a property), while another, smaller dog had been seized.
The victim was taken to Aintree Hospital but passed away on Sunday, 30 March. His next of kin have been informed.
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.
He was also charged with two counts of possession or custody of a dog to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applied, namely an XL bully.
Detective Inspector Simon Mills said: "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."
While at least one of the dogs was reported to have escaped from a nearby home, we don't know the exact circumstances leading to the animal being let loose on the street.
Despite Cheshire Police's earlier statement saying two dogs had been shot dead, some news reports from today are only mentioning one dog attacking the pensioner. One of the xl bully dogs is believed to have been shot dead inside a property, suggesting only one dog was involved in the attack.
The exact nature of the victim's injuries have not been shared, and the man is yet to be named or pictured.
His family may decide to share a tribute and photographs through the police in the coming days, otherwise, he may be named during court proceedings.
In light of the man's death, the Crown Prosecution Service will now determine if any changes need to be made to the charges, Cheshire Police said.
One neighbour, named Vic, told the Liverpool Echo he "saw everything happen" as he looked through his kitchen window.
He says he saw a man lying on the floor in the driveway across the street and thought he'd had a heart attack at first before seeing "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," Vic said.
"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."
Vic said he called over to a neighbour over the street and asked them to call the police, and that residents were told to get inside when armed officers arrived.
"I went back inside and looked through the window and saw the police shoot the dog dead," said Vic, who added: "I'm traumatised by what happened. There was blood on my boots and over my brush. It was everywhere."
Read more
Mapped: The number of dog attacks in your area since XL Bully ban with more than 60 reported a day (The Independent)
The incapable dog owners whose pets got dangerously out of control (Birmingham Live)
'Sweet and gentle' dog killed by suspected XL bully while on village walk (Oxford Mail)
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