Rescued from attack by dogs (From Barry And District News)

Rescued from attack by dogs

A BARRY boy was saved from an attack by two bull mastiff dogs thanks to the heroic action of two pensioners.

Twelve-year-old Lewis McCarthy was set upon by the dogs as he walked home from football training last Friday. One grabbed his right arm while the other tried to bite his face.

As he grappled with the animals at the junction of Palmerston and Solent Road, brave pensioners Terry and Marion Pratt came to his rescue.

They jumped out of their car and dragged the dogs off the terrified youngster.

Sixty-five-year-old Marion said: "We did not think about what we were doing. I pulled and kicked the dog attached to the young lad. We eventually got it off.

"Afterwards I thought how scary it was and what could have happened to the lad if he was attacked in the underpass. It was dragging him around like a rag doll."

Her husband, Terry, 70, added: "We just did what anyone would do."

After the attack, the dogs ran off and Lewis was taken to his Cassy Hill home.

He was in a state of shock and was later admitted to hospital. The dogs had bitten through four layers of clothing, puncturing his arm in six places. He was also badly bruised.

His mother, Ann McCarthy, said: "I cannot sleep thinking about what could have happened. I do not know what I would have done without my neighbours' help when Lewis came home.

"He was in shock and rolled up into a ball. My neighbour tried to remove his torn clothes but he kept going into shock.

"I dread to think how much more injured Lewis would be without the help of Marion and Terry.

"He cannot play football at the moment and has had a week off school because he cannot write."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barry police on 734451.