A woman in her 50s was killed by her own XL Bully dogs in her front garden, with paramedics attempting to resuscitate her using CPR. The incident occurred in Hornchurch, where armed police evacuated the area after the attack. Despite efforts by emergency services, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. This tragic event is the latest fatal attack by an XL Bully dog in the UK, leading to the banning of the breed in England and Wales earlier this year.
XL Bully attack Hornchurch – latest: Woman killed by her two dogs in East London home given CPR in front garden
Rishi Sunak explains why the XL Bully dog was added to the banned breeds under the Dangerous Dogs Act earlier this year
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A woman killed by her own XL Bully dogs was treated by paramedics who attempted to resuscitate her using CPR in her front garden, neighbours have said.
The victim, believed to be in her 50s, was attacked by her two dogs at a semi-detached home in Cornwall Close in Hornchurch just after 1pm on Monday.
Armed police attended the scene and told neighbours in the cul-de-sac to stay indoors before the area was evacuated shortly after 4pm.
Despite London Ambulance Service sending paramedics and a helicopter, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “I came out of the house and looked to see what had happened. We hadn’t heard anything but saw a helicopter overhead and loads of police.
“I stood by the road and saw a paramedic administering CPR. That poor woman. It’s shocking.”
It is the latest fatal attack by an XL Bully dog in the UK, and follows the banning of the breed in England and Wales from 1 February.
More than 55,000 exemption certificates were issued by Defra for owners keeping their dogs after the ban
Have you been affected by this? Email alexander.ross@independent.co.uk
Key Points
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‘Really sad’ – local dog trainer
The BBC has spoken to a dog trainer who lives local to the house where the woman died.
Michaela Scott, who specialises in working with XL Bully dogs, said: “It’s really sad for the person, the neighbours, for the local community.”
She claimed they’d been a rise in people wanting help in training their dogs since new rules came into play after the ban in February.
She added: “Owners want to do what’s right for their dog….they want to know how to keep their dog safe as well as everyone else safe.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 11:09
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Road was evacuated
Neighbours say they were told to stay indoors “out of respect” before being evacuated by the police.
One man, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: “I was sat in the garden when it happened. I didn’t hear anything but I saw a helicopter overhead.
“I looked out and saw two or three ambulances and eight or nine police cars. We asked police what had happened, they said there’d been ‘an unfortunate incident’.
“At around 4.15pm we were told to evacuate. We were out for around half an hour while police blocked off the road.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 11:05
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One person heard barking during the incident
One woman said she heard barking during the incident and had previously warned her child about going near the XL bully dogs.
She told the PA news agency: “I said ‘don’t ever touch those dogs. They’re dangerous’.
“I didn’t see anything but I heard a lot of of barking and saw a lot of people outside.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 10:22
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Paramedics administered CPR to the victim
Neighbours have described seeing paramedics administer CPR to the victim in her front garden.
A woman who has asked to remain anonymous said: “I came out of the house and looked to see what had happened. We hadn’t heard anything but saw a helicopter overhead and loads of police.
“I stood by the road and saw a paramedic administering CPR. That poor woman. It’s shocking.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 10:13
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Other XL Bully dog attack cases in the news this week
On Thursday, a man will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after his XL Bully dog attacked an 11-year-old girl and two men.
Farhat Ajaz, 61, pleaded guilty to three charges of owning a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control following an incident in Bordesley Green, Birmingham on 9 September last year.
The attack by the dog, named Tyson, resulted in shoulder and arm injuries for the girl.
And earlier this month, a 39-year-old arrested on connection with the death of grandmother Esther Martin, who was killed by XL Bully dogs in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, had his bail extended as investigations continue.
Essex Police will not say if the dogs were registered.
Alex Ross21 May 2024 09:55
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More reaction from neighbours
Neighbours have been speaking to reporters at the scene this morning.
One walking her dogs told LBC: “I don’t understand where these dogs came from, I’ve never seen them. I go every day with my dogs but I’ve never seen these ones. I’d notice these dogs because I’d avoid them.
“It’s horrible… so close to home. It’s a horrible, horrible, thing to happen.
Another told the outlet that she saw the dogs in the garden and that they would bark late into the night.
Alex Ross21 May 2024 09:30
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Ambulance service issues statement
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and London’s air ambulance.
“We treated a person but sadly, despite our efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 09:10
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Scene this morning
Pictures from the scene this morning show the woman’s semi-detached home taped off with a blue forensic tent set up at the front porch.
Meanwhile, people in local social media groups have paying their respects.
One person wrote: “Thinking of the family and how they must be in such a state of shock.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 09:00
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Where the attack took place
Cornwall Close is in Havering, in Hornchurch. It is located next to the A127 on the outskirts of the borough.
Alex Ross21 May 2024 08:50
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‘You never think a dog will do that’
The fatal dog attack took place in Cornwall Close, near Essex Gardens where residents brought out cups of tea and coffee to police officers who attended following the attack on Monday
One told the Mirror: “The dogs weren’t killed, they’ve taken them away.
“There’s been vans back and forth non-stop since lunchtime and we saw the helicopter come over and you assume the worst. Campion [a nearby school and sixth form college] isn’t far from here so you panic it’s kids or something. You never think a dog’s going to do that. It’s awful.”
Alex Ross21 May 2024 08:40
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/xl-bully-attack-dogs-hornchurch-london-news-b2548500.html