A 45-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was mauled by a pitbull in Sastri Park, Phoenix, recently.
It is believed that the man, who does not want to be named, had been walking on Unipark Close, when he was attacked by the dog.
Residents contacted the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Phoenix Operations Centre requesting urgent medical attention for the seriously injured man.
“According to one caller, at the time of the call, the dog was still in the vicinity and was a threat to other individuals,” said Prem Balram of RUSA.
Reaction Officers and RUSA medics were immediately dispatched and arrived on scene at about 5.16pm.
“The man was located on the pavement bleeding extensively from multiple bite wounds to his body and legs. He also sustained a fracture to his left leg,” said Mr Balram.
He said witnesses had informed them that the dog involved in the attack was a pitbull and had run off before the first responders arrived on the scene. Reaction Officers patrolled the area in search of the dog, but were unable to find it.
The seriously injured pedestrian was stabilised on scene before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
Speaking from hospital, the man said he had used the road as a “short-cut” when the dog pounced on him.
“I thought I was going to die. I really did not know what was happening. I was screaming and I tried to push the dog off me, but the dog just wouldn’t let go. He kept on coming at me, and I eventually fell really hard.
“I tried to get up, but I think that was when I broke my leg and I realised I could not move. I was at the mercy of this dog that just kept attacking me. I remember people trying to help, but they were also scared of this dog. It was a horrible ordeal,” said the man, who is hoping to be discharged from hospital soon.
He has not opened a charge against the dog’s owner and is not sure if he will.
