JOGGER FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER PITBULL ATTACK

ii

Durban - A 33-year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was attacked by two pitbulls at Tinley Manor beach.

The man was jogging when the two dogs attacked him on Monday.

Janus van Schalkwyk, a paramedic from IPSS Medical Rescue, responded to the scene and said the incident took place before 8am.“The victim tried to fight off the dogs and when the owner saw what was happening, he rushed to the man’s aid."

“The jogger suffered significant soft-tissue damage to his biceps and his left leg,” said Van Schalkwyk.Once stabilised at the scene, the man was rushed to a nearby hospital for further care.

The victim’s sister declined to give her brother’s name.

“He is 33 and is in very bad condition in hospital,” the emotional woman said. She declined to comment further."

The fate of the dogs was unknown at the time of going to print.

This attack comes just days after an elderly woman was mauled by her family’s Rottweiler.

Last Thursday, the woman was walking her three dogs – the Rottweiler, a Jack Russell and a Border collie – when a fight broke out among the dogs. 

When she tried to separate the dogs, she was attacked by the Rottweiler.

She sustained injuries to her arm, thigh, chest and back. One of the woman’s arteries was severely damaged during the attack.

She was taken to hospital in a serious condition and underwent emergency surgery.

Paul Herbst, IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, said the woman was in a stable condition and would still need to have multiple additional operations in the coming weeks.

Should a dog owner or member of the public find themselves in a situation where two or more dogs are engaged in fighting, do not interfere or try to separate the dogs, unless you are experienced in dealing with this situation, warned the Natal Rottweiler Association.

Instead, leave the dogs and call people with experience in this regard to help.

Lindsey Concer, Durban and Coastal SPCA spokesperson, advised pet owners or anyone considering taking on a new pet, of any breed, to make sure they had done as much research as possible on what was required from them to properly care for the animal.

“Training is definitely something that should be considered for dogs. Unfortunately, however prepared one is, tragedy can still strike,” Concer said.

oo