Father badly injured as he saves daughter from dog

A father was left with serious injuries after he was mauled by a dog as he wrestled it away from his nine-year-old daughter.

Simon Hryhoruk remains in hospital following the attack by a Japanese Akita-type dog in the driveway of his home in Rushall, Walsall.

The 35-year-old today spoke of the terrifying moment the dog attacked his daughter Amy, leaving her with bite marks to the back of her head.

The pair had just returned home after playing mini golf at Star City when the dog appeared behind them and charged towards Amy, knocking her over. Brave Simon, a web designer, of Lichfield Road, sprang into action to pull the dog away from her but suffered serious injuries which have required three operations.

Mr Hryhoruk today recalled the moment he saw that the dog had Amy's head in his mouth at around 5.30pm on Saturday.

"I thought the dog was about to kill her," he said.

"I tackled the dog and tried to pin the dog to the ground but without a collar and with it taking bites out of my arms and hands it was very difficult.

"The dog seemed very determined to get around me and back at Amy."

Mr Hryhoruk managed to drag the dog away for a short while but it launched a second attack on him.

"As I lay on my back, I could see by the frenzied look in the dog's eyes that it meant to kill me," he said.

"I am not sure where I found the strength to fight the dog but I was determined that it would not get at Amy. The recurring terror I keep having is what would have happened had I not been there."

A quick-thinking neighbour also rushed to help pull the dog away using a lead.

Rushall JMI pupil Amy received stitched to the head and is said to have been left traumatised by the experience.

West Midlands Police today said the dog had been taken to police dog kennels. Witnesses are asked to call police on 101.