XL bully was shot 19 occasions attributable to ‘sheer measurement’ as man, 84, dies after horror mauling

Armed police were called to Bardsley Avenue, Warrington, after the elderly man was left seriously injured in an attack which took place in the front garden of a property

A tragic update has emerged as an elderly man savaged by an XL Bully dog has succumbed to his injuries.

Armed police rushed to Bardsley Avenue in Warrington at about 6.40pm on Monday, February 24, after the pensioner was left grievously wounded in a brutal mauling that happened in someone’s front garden. The 84-year-old man was rushed to hospital, but despite receiving medical care, he passed away on Sunday, March 30. Police said he “fought so hard” post-attack but ultimately, his injuries were just too severe.

His family’s been notified and they’re getting help from specialist officers. The attack took place while the victim was strolling down the street and the dog, believed to have bolted from a nearby house, set upon him.

Armed police put down the beast outside the home, with Cheshire Police confirming that firearms officers had to discharge 19 shots due to “the sheer size and ferocity of these animals“.

In the aftermath, Sean Garner from Bardsley Avenue, Warrington, was given a couple of charges including owning a dangerously out-of-control dog causing serious injury and having custody of a dog covered by section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, specifically an XL bully, reports the Liverpool Echo.

With the victim’s death now confirmed, the Crown Prosecution Service has been looped in to decide if the charges need tweaking, according to Cheshire Police.

Detective Inspector Simon Mills, from Cheshire Police’s Major Investigation Team, said: “This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time. The victim has fought so hard since the attack but sadly his injuries were too much, and despite the best efforts of the specialist medical teams who have supported him since the attack, he has now passed away.

“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.”

Neighbours described how they were left “traumatised” by the attack. Vic, who lives across the street from the property where the attack happened, told the ECHO he “saw everything happen”.

He said: “I was looking through the kitchen window and saw a guy lying on the floor in the driveway over the road. I thought he’d had a heart attack. Then I saw 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. 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 had the quick thinking to shout across to a neighbour, asking them to alert the police. He reported that armed officers were swiftly on site to handle the situation.

He recounted: “The police arrived and we were told to get in. We had to move away because the dog could have attacked us. All the neighbours were out in the street. I went back inside and looked through the window and saw the police shoot the dog dead.

“There were four or five shots.”

Vic continued: “I’m traumatised by what happened. There was blood on my boots and over my brush. It was everywhere.”

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