Latest news with #emergencysurgery
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Two arrested after girl, 7, and woman hurt in Kirkby dog attack
A seven year-old girl has had emergency surgery after being bitten by a dog as she played outside on girl suffered injuries to her arm and leg on Dulas Green, Kirkby, just before 18:00 BST on Thursday, police said.A 22-year-old woman was also bitten on her leg, arm and hand as she tried to remove the dog from the child before it was contained by neighbours. Both remain in hospital in a stable men have been arrested and the dog, believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, has been seized. Insp Louie Lyons said it was "a horrific attack which has left a young child requiring emergency surgery for a number of serious injuries"."We have seized the dog and extensive efforts are under way to establish exactly what happened," she said."I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, who may have information, to come forward as soon as possible."Officers also seized cannabis plants from a nearby house, the force said. A 54-year-old man, from Southdene, Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury, and production of a Class B drug cannabis.A 23-year-old man, also from Southdene, Kirkby has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. They remain in custody for questioning. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Times
I thought I was going to die, says British woman attacked by shark
A British woman has flown home for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark while on holiday in Jamaica. Rachel Smith, 26, was in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, when a shark bit her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off, with blood spurting from the wound. Her sister, Lisa, 28, saw a metre-long shark swimming away and managed to bring Smith to safety while warning others to keep away. Both sisters were knocked over by the impact of the animal, which was in an area that had been designated as safe to swim in. Doctors said the bite marks were likely those of a reef shark. Smith, a pharmacologist, was taken to hospital in an ambulance and doctors said she needed plastic surgery but with no surgeon available for two weeks, she and her sister flew back to their parents' home in Cork, Ireland, to seek treatment. Doctors said the tendons and nerves in Smith's ring and little fingers were damaged, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been separated. After emergency surgery, she hopes to regain full movement in 18 months. Smith and her sister, a procurement specialist, both from Newham, London, said they had suffered nightmares since the attack on May 8. Smith said: 'There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Her sister added: 'We were so terrified. I honestly thought her fingers were gone — there was blood everywhere. 'We were just crying and thinking she was going to die.' The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
British holidaymaker attacked by shark during morning swim ‘thought she would die'
A Brit has been forced to fly home for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark during a holiday horror. Rachel Smith, 26, was paddling in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when the creature snapped at her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off and blood was pouring from the wound. Sister Lisa Smith, 28, saw a metre-long shark darting away - and she led Rachel to safety while shouting out a warning to other holidaymakers enjoying a morning paddle. Pharmacologist Rachel was taken to hospital in an ambulance and medics said she needed plastic surgery. But with no surgeon available for two weeks, the pair cut their holiday short and flew to Cork, Ireland, where their parents live. Doctors confirmed the tendons and nerves in Rachel's ring and little fingers were ruptured, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been disconnected. She had emergency surgery and hopes to regain full movement in 18 months time. Lisa, a procurement specialist, and Rachel, both from Newham, London, said they have suffered with nightmares since the attack on May 8. Rachel said: "There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. 'I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. "I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Lisa added: "We were so terrified. "I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere. "At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. "We were just crying and thinking she was going to die." The close sisters holiday together each year and had arrived at the Hilton Rose hotel on May 5, intending to stay for two weeks. She was attacked around 10am, and say the shark knocked them both backwards after hitting them with its body. The sisters say the flag on the beach was raised indicating it was safe to swim and doctors confirmed the bite was likely to belong to a reef shark. The pair were initially taken to a private hospital where they were asked to pay $2,000 to have the wounds stitched and quoted $25,000 for further surgery. The transferred to a public hospital before heading home for surgery at Cork University Hospital. The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica, and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home - totalling nearly $500. Rachel said: "I really did think I would die. The private hospital were only concerned with getting the payment before stopping the bleeding." Lisa said Rachel was bitten inside an area cordoned off as safe to swim inside, near the beach, by a rope. "There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them," she said. "I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Holidaymaker flies home for emergency surgery after shark attack
A holidaymaker was forced to fly home to the for emergency surgery after she was bitten by a shark. Rachel Smith, 26, was paddling in hip-height water off Rose Hall beach, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, when the sea creature snapped at her left hand. She was terrified to see her ring finger was hanging off and blood was pouring from the wound. Sister Lisa Smith, 28, saw a metre-long shark darting away - and she led Rachel to safety while shouting out a warning to other holidaymakers enjoying a morning paddle. Pharmacologist Rachel was taken to hospital in an ambulance and medics said she needed plastic surgery. But with no surgeon available for two weeks, the pair cut their holiday short and flew to Cork, Ireland, where their parents live. READ MORE: Mike Tindall calls for help as he issue update on sad family health news READ MORE: Girl, 5, dies hours after being discharged from hospital with 'tonsillitis' Doctors confirmed the tendons and nerves in Rachel's ring and little fingers were ruptured, and the ligaments in her ring finger had been disconnected. She had emergency surgery and hopes to regain full movement in 18 months time. Lisa, a procurement specialist, and Rachel, both from Newham, London, said they have suffered with nightmares since the attack on May 8. Rachel said: "There was so much blood coming out I honestly thought I was going to die. 'I was in complete shock. My whole hand went numb so I thought my whole hand had been taken off. I feel grateful to be alive and so grateful to have my hand. I have a long road of recovery ahead but I have a positive attitude and I believe I will get through it.' Lisa added: "We were so terrified. I honestly thought her fingers were gone - there was blood everywhere. At one point a vein burst and sprayed blood all over both of us. We were just crying and thinking she was going to die." The close sisters holiday together each year and had arrived at the Hilton Rose hotel on May 5, intending to stay for two weeks. She was attacked around 10am, and say the shark knocked them both backwards after hitting them with its body. The sisters say the flag on the beach was raised indicating it was safe to swim and doctors confirmed the bite was likely to belong to a reef shark. The pair were initially taken to a private hospital where they were asked to pay $2,000 to have the wounds stitched and quoted $25,000 for further surgery. The transferred to a public hospital before heading home for surgery at Cork University Hospital. The sisters had to pay for ambulance and taxi travel to hospitals in Jamaica, and to get a 'fit to fly' certificate to come home - totalling nearly $500. Rachel said: "I really did think I would die. The private hospital were only concerned with getting the payment before stopping the bleeding." Lisa said Rachel was bitten inside an area cordoned off as safe to swim inside, near the beach, by a rope. "There were two young kids swimming by the rope, it's lucky it wasn't them," she said. "I'm just so glad and grateful that she's alive."
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
Parents' horror as their six-year-old girl is mauled by an American staffy in a public park and almost SCALPED
A six-year-old girl has undergone emergency surgery after she suffered horrific injuries during a frightening and unprovoked dog attack. The harrowing ordeal unfolded while Margot McNicol and her family were at Nairne's newest off-leash dog park Woofside Road Dog Park, in the Adelaide Hills on Sunday. Margot was playing with her puppy when an American Staffy leapt up and latched onto her head. It took four adults to free the dog from the little girl. 'She screamed, I ran over, and I saw the dog had her head in its mouth and was pulling her hair like a tug of war,' her mum Christina told Seven News. 'I stabilised my daughter's head and her hair so it couldn't keep pulling because I was really worried it would scalp her.' Margot was rushed to hospital with several puncture wounds to her head, along with scratches and bruising. She remains in hospital. Her injuries could have been a lot worse had another part of her head been attacked, according to her dad Braeden. 'It could have been a completely different story,' Mr McNichol said. Adding insult to injury, the McNicols claim the dog owner fled the park afterwards without apologising to Margot or the family. Mount Barker District Council is investigating the attack. The owner could face a fine of more than $300 and the Staffy could be euthanised. The extent of the punishment will depend on the severity of the attack and if the dog was already deemed a dangerous animal. 'If that is what is the safest (euthanasia), I think that is what should happen,' Ms McNicol said. 'The owner should know better, and I hope this is a lesson to them.' It's the same dog breed that mauled a five-week old baby boy to death as his parents slept at a NSW Central Coast home in 2021. A recent inquest into the baby's death heard that the breed had the highest incidence of attacks in local government data from 2018-2021. American Staffordshire Terriers are 'muscular, energetic medium-size dogs', according to Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance. While most of the breed's aggression has been 'bred out', they should always be supervised during play time. 'Being a strong, powerful breed, firm and consistent training is essential to ensure your American Staffy will obey your commands and behave respectably,' the company states. 'Intense socialisation from an early age is also very important in order to curb potential aggression towards both humans and other dogs. 'If not well trained, behavioural problems can develop and the Amstaff can become difficult to handle.' Woofside Road Dog Park opened in February. The area is a fully fenced, unleashed dog park with activity zones, shelter, seating, a footpath loop, water bubbler and dog water bowl.
