Woman nearly has foot torn off in mauling by neighbour's Staffie dog

29 October 2023 , 10:35

711     0

Patricia pictured on a gurney after the attack (Image: Seven News)

An elderly woman is recovering in hospital after nearly losing her foot when an "out of control" dog "clamped down" on her leg.

David Thackar managed to free his wife Patricia, 78, from the dog, understood to be a Staffie cross in Adelaide, Australia's suburbs on Wednesday. David said the dog had escaped from a neighbour's garden and made a beeline for his wife who happened to be outside. He said it was unlike anything he had seen before and was completely horrified to see the hound's jaws clamped over his wife's toes.

David said that he "dragged" his wife through the door and then shut it "in case the animal came back again." Patricia was treated at Royal Adelaide Hospital where she underwent a mammoth 18 hours of surgery to repair the damage to her foot. David told 7NEWS: "It just hurtled through the garden bed and just latched onto Pat's foot. I've never seen anything like that, you could almost see through her foot ... It just started backing off, pulling and pulling on her with its jaws clamped on over her toes."

Patricia Thackar nearly loses her moot after a mauling by her neighbour's Staffie dog in Australia (Seven News)

The traumatised woman remains in the hospital in a stable condition and her husband says she will need months of recovery and rehabilitation. The dog has been seized by West Torrens Council animal control officers who are investigating whether it is safe to be released.

Meanwhile, an unnamed 66-year-old man died in Tasmania after being attacked by his own dog at a home in what police have described as a "very rare" and "tragic" incident. Police said the dog attacked the man and a woman aged 64. The woman remains in a stable condition but the man sadly died on the scene.

Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams

Inspector Colin Riley from Tasmania Police said: "The woman was transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries to her lower limbs. Our thoughts are with the man's loved ones at this difficult time. Obviously, this is a family that had a loved pet and unfortunately, that animal has turned on them and it's had tragic outcomes." Police said they would investigate what happened before the dog attacked but would not identify the breed.

Dangerous dogs in the UK have been thrust into the limelight after a spate of deadly attacks. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to ban XL Bullies after at least six people were mauled to death by the powerful breed so far this year.

Rachel Hagan