Woman, 19, dies after canine assault as man, 37, is arrested for being accountable for out-of-control animal

A 19-year-old woman has died after she was mauled by a dog at a house in Essex, police say.

Police were called to an address in the village near Great Dunmow at around 10.45pm on Friday, where they found the teenager with serious injuries.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers believe the woman was attacked by a dog at the property in Long Hide.

Specialist officers made the scene safe and the animal has since been seized.

A 37-year-old man from Dunmow has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

He remains in custody.

Essex Police said in a statement: ‘We have been carrying out enquiries to establish the circumstances, and we believe she had been attacked by a dog at the property in Long Hide.’ 

A 19-year-old woman has died after she was mauled by a dog at a house in Essex, police say. Pictured: A police car at the scene

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said the incident would come as a shock to the local community.

He added: ‘My thoughts, and those of everyone at Essex Police, are with the loved ones of the woman who died.

‘We will have officers in the area throughout today, so please speak to them if you have any information or concerns. Experienced detectives are working to establish exactly what has happened.’

Police have urged anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward, quoting incident 1419 of April 10.