A man has been killed by an XL Bully dog in Sunderland.
Northumbria Police said it received a report of an attack at an address in Maple Terrace in Shiney Row, Sunderland, at around 6.55pm yesterday.
Emergency services attended the scene and the man, aged 54, was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died on Tuesday night.
The man’s next of kin have been informed.
A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause Grievous Bodily Harm. Following the man’s death, he has since been re-arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody at this time. The dog was killed at the scene.
Linda Blyth, who lives in Maple Terrace, said she saw paramedics working on the injured man’s neck. The attack happened on a grassy area behind her home, she said.
Police responded in large numbers and officers told residents to go inside.
She told the PA news agency: “We were told ‘go in, shut your doors’ and then I heard the gun shot.”
The dog was shot in the owner’s yard.
“I don’t know what set the dog off, everyone is speculating,” she said.
Speaking of the paramedics, she said: “It was awful to see, you don’t expect it on your doorstep.”
She said she could hear their heart monitor beeping as the man was stretchered past.
A friend of hers had just visited the XL bully that lunchtime and told her: “It’s soft as clarts.”
A local dog owner, who asked not to be named, frequently saw two XL bullies being walked in the area.
He saw the man’s throat had been injured.
He said: “I heard a girl screaming for the police, saying the man was dying.
“The man got put in the ambulance and they were working on him here for about 10 minutes before they set off.
“I have seen the two dogs before, they are well known in the area, an older one and a younger one.
“They shot the older one in the yard.”
While further assessment will be carried out, officers said they believe the dog to be an XL Bully breed.
A second dog, also believed to be an XL Bully breed, was also seized as a precaution.
The latest attack comes as the Government looks to ban American XL bully dogs in response to a series of attacks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to ban the breed in September under the Dangerous Dogs Act by the end of the year.
An official spokesman for Mr Rishi said a “transition period” would be introduced, with details likely to follow a consultation on the plan.
Owners could face a requirement to neuter their dogs and muzzle them in public, the Government’s chief vet has suggested.
Detective Chief Inspector Angela Hudson, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the man’s family and loved ones.
“This is an absolutely tragic incident, and we will continue to offer them support in any way that we can.
“A full investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of what has happened.
“I would like to reassure the wider community that there is no ongoing risk to them, and officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance and carry out enquiries.“While our investigation is at an early stage, we do believe those involved were known to each other.
“I would also continue to ask people not to speculate about the incident online, including on social media, while enquiries are ongoing.”