Window cleaner, 44, suffers horrific injuries after being mauled by pitbull while walking his border terrier as police launch hunt for owner
- WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
- Keith Richards was walking his dog near his home in Wallsend, Tyne-and-Wear
- The 44-year-old window cleaner was attacked by a pitbull on St Valentine’s Night
A man savagely attacked by a dog while he was out on a walk has shared images of his horrific injuries as police launch an investigation into the incident.
Keith Richards was left needing hospital treatment after a pit bull reportedly launched a vicious attack on him while he walked his border terrier in Wallsend, Tyne-and-Wear at around 8.15pm on February 14.
The 44-year-old window cleaner said he suffered bites on his right underarm, shoulder blade, collarbone and to the right side of his body during the 10-minute ordeal.
Mr Richards, who runs his own window cleaning business, has also been left unable to work while his injuries heal and faces the possibility of needing plastic surgery.
‘I was walking my dog on Archer Street when I saw a lass holding on for dear life to a pit bull,’ Keith said.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
Keith Richards, from Wallsend, Tyne-and-Wear was walking his dog on St Valentine’s night when he was attacked by a pitbull
Mr Richards suffered extensive bitemarks during his ten-minute ordeal
‘It got out of her hands and had no muzzle on. I threw my dog onto the top of the car and then the pit bull went absolutely beserk and began ripping me to pieces.
‘All of the people who were trying to help had to run back into their houses because it was going for them.’
Mr Richards said the woman with the dog, and the three other people she was with, left the scene after the attack. He contacted the police immediately after the incident and went to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVI) the following day.
‘I realised my injuries were that bad that I had to go to hospital,’ he said.
‘It looks like I have been attacked by a bear. I have been to the RVI twice and have quite a few puncture wounds. Doctors have talked about me needing plastic surgery.
‘It has bitten three big chunks out of me. One of the marks is near my collarbone. If it had [attacked] a shorter person it could have killed them.’
Mr Richards believes that a shorter person than himself would have been bitten in the neck
Northumbria police said they are investigating the incident and searching for the owner of the dangerous dog
Northumbria Police said they have launched an investigation into the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward.
A force spokeswoman said: ‘At around 8.40pm on February 14, police received a report a dangerous dog had bitten a man in North Tyneside. It was reported a 44-year-old was walking on Archer Street when a group with a pit bull passed him.
‘The dog has then attacked the man, causing injuries to his right-hand side. The group have left the scene without assisting the man.
‘An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the ‘Tell us Something’ page of our website, quoting crime reference 019697X/23.’