The man was bitten by two dogs in Main Street, Stonnall
By Maisie Olah
BBC News, West Midlands
A man left in a critical condition after being seriously injured in an attack by two dogs has died.
The attack happened in Main Street, Stonnall, near Walsall, on Thursday afternoon, police said.
The victim was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and was confirmed dead, emergency services said.
A man, 30, from Lichfield was arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control.
The attack took place at about 15:15 BST. Members of the public tried to help the victim and attempted to get the dogs off him.
Meanwhile, children at nearby St Peter’s Primary Academy were stopped from leaving for safety reasons.
One of the dogs was contained outside, while the other was contained in the owner’s flat.
Image source, Ryan Underwood
Police remain at the scene
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said in March a woman and her dogs were seen being chased by the same two dogs who killed the man.
The resident said the police were called and the owner was given a caution.
Police have said the breed of the animals was still being established.
A 63-year-old resident and dog walker told the Press Association she saw the air ambulance land in a local park and said the centre of the village had been shut.
“We are all a bit shook-up,” she said.
“As dog walkers here, we all know each other. When we realised that something horrific had happened we all spoke to each other and nobody knew who it was,” she added.
School children at St Peter’s Primary Academy were told not to leave as the attack happened at the end of the school day
A West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) spokesman who were called to the scene on Thursday said: “Upon arrival we found a man who had sustained multiple life-threatening injuries and was in a critical condition.
“Unfortunately, after arrival at hospital, despite the best efforts it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed as deceased.”
A recent dog attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham has sparked debate about banning certain dog breeds.
The girl and two men were set upon by an American bully XL outside shops in Bordesley Green on 9 September.
Ana Paun, 11, said she had started to run after seeing a dog staring at her when it grabbed her hand and started moving her about.
While the breeds of the two dogs who killed the man in Stonnall is currently not known, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for the American bully XL to be outlawed.
Ms Braverman wrote on social media: “This is appalling. The American XL bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children.”
BBC Verify reported that ten people died because of dog bite injuries in England and Wales last year, with the number of attacks rising from 4,699 in 2007 to 8,819 admissions to hospitals in England with dog bites last year.
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