Leicester man jailed after dog attacks paramedics
One of the paramedics has been unable to work since the incident due to the severity of her injuries.
Last updated 9th Jan 2024
A man, whose dog attacked three paramedics responding to an emergency call, has been jailed for more than 2 years.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) workers were moving a patient from a property in Leicester when the attack happened last August.
Pradip Kumar Dayal, the dog's owner, was locked up for 25 months at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday (4th January).
EMAS said the dog had been locked away when paramedics first arrived, but was then let out and attacked them.
Rebecca Dunn sustained serious injuries to her chest, shoulder, arm and legs, requiring hospitalisation and surgery.
Months later, she still hasn't been able to return to work.
She said: “The memory of that day will never leave me. I just remember thinking if I don’t get control of this situation it’s going to end badly for us.
"I remember my legs being bitten and I could feel the flesh ripping, but the adrenaline masked the pain. The realisation that the dog wasn’t going to stop, and I had no way of defending myself, was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.
“The dog clamped onto my arm and shook me like a rag doll. I remember thinking to myself ‘stay on your feet or you’re going to die’.
"Asha and I wrestled with that dog for what felt like an eternity until we finally managed to restrain it. It wasn’t until I was on the ambulance afterwards, I realised the full extent of my injuries.
"My uniform was torn and blood-soaked. I was shaking through shock and the intensity of the pain hit me.
“Anyone who knows me knows how much I love dogs. It breaks my heart to think this incident has ruined that for me.
"I don’t blame the dog; it’s irresponsible owners who damage the reputation of the many responsible owners out there. I still have a way to go with my recovery, but I’m determined to get back to normal as soon as I can.”
Student paramedic Cerys Hughes was badly bitten on her arm and leg.
'Extreme terror will haunt me forever'
Describing the attack, she said: “I’m not sure any of us believed we were all going to make it out alive that night.
"After I fell to the ground, if it wasn’t for Rebecca helping me to stand and physically shielding me from the relentless mauling, I think I would have been killed.
"The extreme terror that caused me to freeze that night will haunt me forever, as will the guilt and helplessness I felt witnessing my crew mates being attacked.
"They fought bravely to get that dog under control, and we are all alive because of it.
“This ordeal has taken huge toll on my mental health, but I am determined that it will not stop me from pursuing the career that I love.”
55 year old Pradip kumar Dayal has been banned from owning a dog indefinitely.