Armed police rush in as pit bull savagely 'attacks' man causing serious injuries
A man has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following an incident believed to be a dog attack with a pit bull in Aberavon, South Wales.
A man suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to hospital following an incident with a pit bull, believed to be a dog attack.
Police were called to Blair Way, Aberavon, near Port Talbot in south Wales at around 7am this morning to find the 24-year-old injured.
A dog at the scene was sedated and removed by police. It is believed to be a pit bull or Staffordshire bull terrier.
A spokesman for South Wales Constabulary said: "Officers attended Blair Way, Aberavon at around 7am this morning (Monday June 17) following a report of an incident involving a man and a dog.
"A 24-year-old man has been taken to hospital by Air Ambulance with serious injuries. The dog has been sedated and removed from the scene by Police Dog units. Our investigation is ongoing."
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said that "advanced critical care" was given at the scene.
They said: “We were called on today at 7:14am to reports of an incident at Nobel Avenue, Port Talbot.
"We sent one emergency ambulance to the scene. Advanced critical care support was delivered by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter. One person was taken by road to hospital.”
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Dog belonged to a family member
Police have confirmed that the dog which left a 24-year-old man in hospital belonged to a family member.
The man - who police said was a relative of the animal's owner - suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance, reports the BBC.
Attack happened near school
A primary school is right next to where a savage dog attack took place in south Wales this morning.
Police swooped on the scene of the incident that has left a man in hospital with serious injuries in Blair Way in Aberavon, near Port Talbot.
Neighbours said the attack happened in a field off Blair Way, which is part of the nearby school - St Joseph's Junior School, reports the BBC.
Blood spotted on nearby fence
Bloodstained marks on a fence and gate near the site of a savage dog attack have been found by a neighbour.
The woman, who lives near Blair Way in Aberavon, in Port Talbot, south Wales, said: "I thought it might be the dog’s blood but the boy’s brother arrived and told me it was the boy's.
"He’s in a bad way.
"They don’t live here, they were walking the dog in the field when it happened," reports The BBC.
Shocked neighbours speak out
Neighbours living on the street where a savage dog attack took place in south Wales this morning have spoken out.
One neighbour said the dog responsible was a rescue dog.
They said: "It was a pitbull-type dog they rescued from a drug house about seven months ago.
"I saw seven or eight police cars at least here. There were armed police here searching for the dog.
"My door was getting banged at 07.30am, police wanted to check our back gardens. They told us to stay inside," reports the BBC.
What happens to banned dogs?
What happens to dogs if police find they are banned without special exemptions?
The RSCPA has a rundown on its website.
It said: "Dogs suspected of being a banned type are typically seized by the police who unfortunately have no choice but to implement the law.
"These dogs will be held in kennels away from their owner, whilst being assessed to determine if they’re a banned type.
"They’ll be examined by an expert using a set of standards which are mainly based on appearance; genetics or parentage aren’t taken into consideration.
"Applying the law means that many dogs are unnecessarily subjected to stressful processes.
"Many dogs find these processes very difficult to cope with and can result in undesirable changes in health and behaviour."
Public advised to avoid area
Police officers swarmed the location of a dog attack in south Wales this morning.
The public were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible.
Which dogs are banned in the UK
A 24-year-old man has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries following an incident involving a dog.
Police have removed and sedated a dog believed to be a pitbull or Staffordshire bull terrier, from the scene.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) bans the ownership of four different types of dogs including some traditionally bred for fighting:
Pit bull terrier
Japanese Tosa
Dogo Argentino
Fila Braziliero
The XL Bully - which became illegal to own from the February 1 this year without a certificate of exemption
Heavy police presence at the scene of dog attack
Police have swarmed to the site of a dog attack in south Wales this morning.
These images show that as well as a number of police cars and vans armed police are also present.
We will share more information as soon as we have it.
Dog attack: first images
Here we share some of the first images from the scene of a savage dog attack.
Police were called to the scene near Port Talbot in south Wales at 7am this morning.
Ambulance statement in full
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said that "advanced critical care" was given at the scene.
They said: “We were called on today at 7:14am to reports of an incident at Nobel Avenue, Port Talbot.
"We sent one emergency ambulance to the scene.
“Advanced critical care support was delivered by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.
"One person was taken by road to hospital.”
Extent of man's injuries not yet known
The nature and extent of the man's injuries are not yet known.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson has confirmation that one person has been taken to hospital after the incident.
Dog attacks on the increase
Dog attacks by dangerous breeds are on the rise in the UK.
The number of dog attacks recorded by police in England and Wales have risen by 21 percent in a year, according to the BBC.
Dog has been 'sedated'
Police say that the dog involved in the attack this morning has been sedated.
In a statement a police spokesman for the Force said: " The dog has been sedated and removed from the scene by Police Dog units."
Good morning
Good morning all. My name is Mieka Smiles and I'll be bringing you the latest on this breaking news story.
