Dog attack: Man who lost arm after being mauled 'almost died'

A surgeon who had to amputate a man's limb aft a canine onslaught successful Banbridge has said the victim's injuries were astir fatal.

Alastair Brown, a integrative surgeon based astatine Belfast's Ulster Hospital, said the patient's wounds were among the worst helium had seen.

Steven Cull, 48, underwent life-saving surgery.

He was successful infirmary for 2 months aft the onslaught successful October past year.

Mr Brown, who amputated the victim's near arm, said his injuries were truthful terrible it was a lawsuit of "life oregon limb".

He added: "Both his arms, some his legs were severely mangled by the canine and we had to marque a determination precise aboriginal connected to prevention his life.

"We were capable to salvage some of his legs and 1 of his arms.

"Unfortunately the different 1 was conscionable excessively severely damaged.

"This was extreme. This was arsenic terrible arsenic it gets."

Mr Cull said helium loves dogs, but helium described the 1 that attacked him, which was not his own, arsenic a monster.

Although helium passed retired aft being bitten truthful galore times, helium said his recollection was that the canine was a "XXL bully mixed with a mastiff".

After it pounced connected him, helium said helium tried successful vain to fend it disconnected with his hands and feared helium was going to beryllium killed aft being dragged to the ground.

Mr Cull said: "The canine was circling maine and adjacent trying to agelong its rima implicit my caput astatine 1 stage."

He said determination were "chunks" taken retired of his legs.

After the attack, helium was taken to Craigavon Hospital and past the Ulster Hospital for surgery.

"If it had been a babe oregon a skinnier person, they'd person been done for," helium said.

"The poison of the canine saliva was moving done my veins… my organs started to unopen down … I don't cognize however they brought maine backmost aft that."

Mr Cull inactive walks dogs successful spite of the attack.

He thanked aesculapian unit for redeeming his life.

The surgeon, Mr Brown, paid tribute to however Mr Cull has coped since the attack.

"His cognition is an illustration to america all.

"He has been capable to get done this to immoderate grade but nary substance what, the limb is lost," helium said.

The canine progressive successful the onslaught has since been enactment down.

Asked astir the incident, a PSNI spokesperson said: "Police attended and took actions to guarantee the information of others successful the vicinity until the canine was nether control.

"The substance has been passed to the section canine warden.

"The constabulary work continues to liaise with the section assembly successful narration to this substance and enquiries stay ongoing."

A spokesperson for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said: "The canine progressive successful the onslaught was voluntarily surrendered to the assembly and was subsequently humanely euthanised by a veterinary surgeon.

"The incidental has been investigated and a ineligible record is presently with the assembly solicitor."