A 34-year-old Australian woman is in a critical condition after her right arm was severed in a dog attack in Townsville, north Queensland.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 07:00 local time on Friday, where they found the woman suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Her right arm had been severed below the elbow, but paramedics were able to retrieve the detached limb before rushing her to a local hospital. She remains in a serious but stable condition.
Police were forced to shoot the dog, believed to be a pit bull, after arriving to find it acting aggressively inside the house.
Senior Sergeant Scott Warrick, who spoke at a press conference, described the situation as “very angry, very aggressive,” adding that the dog was still attempting to get outside when officers arrived.
Officers applied a makeshift tourniquet to the woman’s arm and provided first aid until paramedics arrived.
Sgt Warrick, a 37-year veteran, described the injuries as “absolutely awful” and expressed hopes for her recovery. “This is the first time I’ve gone to such a serious injury as a result of a dog attack,” he said.
The dog was euthanized on the advice of animal control officers. A second, smaller dog found at the scene was unharmed and is being cared for by the RSPCA.
Neighbors told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the dog involved in the incident had a history of aggression, with one showing scars from a previous attack.
Police, the RSPCA, and local authorities are investigating the case’s specifics, including whether any prior complaints about the animal were made.
The incident occurred just a day after another severe dog attack in Melbourne, where a woman was critically injured and three dogs, including bulldogs and a pit bull, were shot dead by police.
