Hero dog protects Durban North homeowner after panga attack
The homeowner suffered lacerations to his ankle and left arm in the attack.
ELI, a six-year-old German Shepherd, was hailed as a hero after he bit the legs of a panga-wielding suspect who attacked his owner in their Kenneth Kaunda Road (Northway) home on Sunday.
The resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he suffered lacerations to his ankle and left arm in the attack which occurred at about 8am.
“It was just a normal day and I had opened the security gate to let the dog out to the pool area. I was doing a few household chores when I looked up and noticed the suspect in my house, carrying a panga and a large stick. The suspect then ran at me and aimed a blow at my body with the stick, that I fended off. He struck me with the panga, which I couldn’t avoid. I pulled him in closer and a struggle ensued when the suspect lost his grip on the panga,” said the Northway resident.
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“Throughout the attack, I watched the suspect’s eyes and I knew his intention was to try and kill me. We wrestled onto the couch when my dog, Eli, came to the rescue. He bit the suspect several times and he (the suspect) shouted for help and told me to get the dog off of him. The suspect eventually got to his feet, with wounds to his legs, and I shouted ‘hamba’ and he fled the scene,” said the resident.
The resident was treated for lacerations to his ankle and left arm and needed stitches.
“At this point, I had lost a fair amount of blood. I looked for my cellphone to call for help. Without Eli, I do feel I would have been in a much worse of a situation. He has been rewarded with treats from neighbours and he was definitely the hero of the day,” he said.
The resident also thanked SAPS, security and rescue personnel as well as the neighbourhood watch for their prompt response.
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