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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Dog attack man dies in hospital | Dog attack man dies in hospital |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| A man has died hours after being mauled by a rottweiler-type dog as he lay on an east London street. | A man has died hours after being mauled by a rottweiler-type dog as he lay on an east London street. |
| Witnesses said the 78-year-old man "looked like a doll" as the animal shook and bit him in New City Road, Plaistow, on Sunday morning. | |
| The animal, who is believed to have belonged to the victim, was caught and destroyed by the police. | The animal, who is believed to have belonged to the victim, was caught and destroyed by the police. |
| The man was taken to hospital suffering from severe head and facial injuries and died later that night. | |
| Aziz Rahman, 32, saw the attack, which happened at about 0700 GMT, from his bedroom window. | |
| Baseball bats | Baseball bats |
| He said the victim "looked like a doll" as the dog pulled and savaged him. | |
| Mr Rahman 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 window | Aziz Rahman saw the attack from his window |
| "There was blood all over his face." | "There was blood all over his face." |
| 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 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". | 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 walking his dog but he did not believe the animal was a "mad dog". | |
| Fire extinguishers | |
| Mr Collins said his taxi firm was alerted to the incident after someone knocked on the door. | Mr Collins said his taxi firm was alerted to the incident after someone knocked on the door. |
| He said: "There was a rottweiler ripping the man to bits. I ran back and got a baseball bat." | 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 at that point the police arrived. | |
| Eight police officers distracted the dog by discharging six fire extinguishers, then chased it away so the victim could receive medical attention, a police spokesperson said. | |
| The dog was held about a quarter of a mile away until armed officers arrived. | |
| Newham Borough Commander Nick Bracken said: "This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts today are obviously with the family and friends of the deceased man." | |
| He said his officers "put their lives at risk" to protect other members of the public. |