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Dog attack man dies in hospital Dog attack man dies in hospital
(30 minutes later)
A man has died hours after being attacked by a dog, thought to be his own, in east London. A man has died hours after being mauled by a rottweiler-type dog as he lay on a London street.
The victim, aged in his mid 50s, suffered serious head injuries when the Rottweiler-type dog mauled him in New City Road, Plaistow, on Sunday morning. Witnesses described how the man, aged in his 50s, "looked like a rag doll" as the dog shook and bit him on New City Road, Plaistow.
He was taken to hospital where he died later that night. The animal, who is believed to have belonged to the victim, was caught and destroyed by the police.
Witness Aziz Rahman, 32, said the victim "looked like a doll" as the dog pulled at and bit him. The animal was caught and destroyed by armed police. The man was taken to hospital suffering from head injuries and died later on Sunday night.
Aziz Rahman, 32, said the victim "looked like a doll" as the dog pulled and savaged him.
Baseball batsBaseball bats
A police statement said armed officers were called because the dog was "dangerously out of control". Mr Rahman saw the attack, which happened at about 0700 GMT, from his bedroom window.
Neighbour Aziz Rahman, 32, saw the attack, which happened at about 0700 GMT, from his bedroom window.
He said: "There was a man lying on the floor and a dog was over him, licking and biting him.He said: "There was a man lying on the floor and a dog was over him, licking and biting him.
"He looked like a doll, the dog was pulling at him."He looked like a doll, the dog was pulling at him.
Aziz Rahman saw the attack from his windowAziz Rahman saw the attack from his window
"There was blood all over his face.""There was blood all over his face."
Lee Hanson who works at a nearby taxi firm insisted the dog was trying to help the man. Mr Rahman described how residents had tried to distract the dog by hitting baseball bats against a wall but the animal did not respond.
Mr Hanson said: "The man was face down and the dog was trying to wake him up.
"The dog wasn't attacking him at all... it was his own dog. It was banging his head, trying to wake him up."
Mr Rahman described how residents had tried to distract the dog by hitting baseball bats against a wall, but the animal did not respond.
He said: "There must have been 10 to 12 police cars but nobody could do anything to get the dog off him.He said: "There must have been 10 to 12 police cars but nobody could do anything to get the dog off him.
"Eventually one officer used a fire extinguisher to scare the dog off.""Eventually one officer used a fire extinguisher to scare the dog off."
Police have launched an investigation into the death.Police have launched an investigation into the death.
A police statement said armed officers were called because the dog was "dangerously out of control".
Local taxi driver Bill Collins said he regularly saw the man but he did not believe the animal was a "mad dog."
Mr Collins said his taxi firm was alerted to the incident after someone knocked on the door.
'Ripping to bits'
He said: "There was a rottweiler ripping the man to bits. I ran back and got a baseball bat."
He said he then jumped in his car to try to run the dog over as it was not moving but police arrived.
He said: "I think the police got a fire extinguisher. The dog ran down the road.
"I saw the man walk the dog every morning."