Epilepsy sufferer ‘heartbroken’ after nostril ripped off by pet canine
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
An epilepsy sufferer has been left ‘heartbroken’ after his pet dog ripped off his nose in a vicious mauling which was triggered when the animal got ‘spooked’ by a night seizure.
Ben Horne’s house was left ‘plastered in blood’ after the attack which left his top lip hanging down and only the septum bone in his nose in tact.
The 34-year-old has since had to undergo ten reconstructive surgeries, using bones from his ribs and skin from his forearm and forehead.
His dog Henry has since been rehomed and is living happily with a new family after an assessment.
Mr Horne, from Yeovil, Somerset, has had epilepsy since he was 15 but a change of medication caused him to start experiencing night seizures.
Ben Horne pictured during a series of operations which followed a vicious mauling from his dog during an epileptic seizure
Skin from his forehead had to be used during the reconstructive surgeries which followed the attack five years ago
Mr Horne (pictured), from Yeovil, Somerset, has had epilepsy since he was 15 but a change of medication caused him to start experiencing night seizures
During one episode, Henry mauled his face, ripping off his nose and parts of his mouth and chin in an attempt to save him.
Despite struggling to talk, Mr Horne, an aerospace engineer, managed to call an ambulance which then rushed him to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
He said: ‘My whole house was plastered in blood. I called 999. I couldn’t really talk but I managed to convey I needed an ambulance.
‘When I came round a nurse said “I’m going to hand you a mirror and it’s going to be a big shock”.
‘I couldn’t quite believe the amount of damage. It was heart-breaking. I’m really trying to accept myself.
‘It’s learning to love yourself and the way that you are rather than reflecting on how you used to be.’
During a ten-hour emergency operation, surgeons attempted to piece anything they could back together.
The aerospace engineer said: ‘I remember looking in the mirror and I just wished that I hadn’t managed to call an ambulance.
During a ten-hour emergency operation, surgeons attempted to piece anything they could back together
Surgeons took skin from his forearm to rebuild his nose
Ben Horne’s house was left ‘plastered in blood’ after the attack which left his top lip hanging down and only the septum bone in his nose in tact
Mr Horne had an initial reconstruction in May 2021 – due to Covid-related delays – at Southmead Hospital, Bristol
‘I didn’t see how I could live with what happened.’
Mr Horne had an initial reconstruction in May 2021 – due to Covid-related delays – at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
This involved creating more of a septum for his nose but this collapsed after he had to wait until October 2021 for the next surgery.
They took skin from his left forearm to create the inner part of his nose.
The 34-year-old said: ‘Both my forearms are tattooed so I had to make a decision over which I preferred.
‘At least I can say I have a tattoo inside in my nose.’
During the surgery, they took bones from his ribs and an artery from his forearm to connect this into his neck.
Mr Horne added: ‘I found it very difficult. I always tried to keep looking forward.
‘Having a tattooed chunk on my face that I had to put make-up on every day.’
He then had another surgery in September 2022 to take part of the skin from his forehead and fold it down over the top of the tattooed skin.
Ben said: ‘Having the forehead flap – it was huge on my face.
‘They have to leave the skin connected so you have a huge lump hanging over your eyes.’
The aerospace engineer (pictured) has said he is starting to come to terms with his injuries
Mr Horne pictured during surgery. During the process, they took bones from his ribs and an artery from his forearm to connect this into his neck
Mr Horne still needs plastic tubes to help him breathe so the next step is to find a way to remove those without his nose closing up
He said: ‘It’s very difficult when you see people staring at you for too long’
Mr Horne’s surgeon decided to go private mid-way through his surgeries but Exeter plastics team were able to step in.
They completed a surgery in March 2023 where they took more bone from his hip and the cartilage in his rib to bolt it onto his forehead – after the previous donor bone got infected.
In May 2023 the aerospace engineer had the forehead skin disconnected and the team have since been completing an operation to work on the structure of his nose.
Mr Horne still needs plastic tubes to help him breathe so the next step is to find a way to remove those without his nose closing up.
He said: ‘It’s very difficult when you see people staring at you for too long.
‘They look at you like an object. It was a lot of embarrassment.
‘I liken it to a dream where you are naked in public. You want to hide but you can’t.
‘You can’t change things and what has happened.’
