A young dog walker who was killed in a savage attack that led to eight dogs being seized by police had been repeatedly bitten.
Armed police and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) swooped into a park in Surrey yesterday afternoon following reports of a dog attacking people.
Surrey Police confirmed a 28-year-old woman died at the scene another woman was rushed to the hospital with dog bites. She has since been discharged.
Police confirmed eight dogs were seized and taken to police custody. It is understood none of the dogs that have been seized are from banned breeds.
It is thought at least one of the dogs unleashed the attack, causing fatal injuries and a huge blood loss. Previous reports said there were seven dogs.
A spokesman said police were holding the dogs in kennels. Their owners have been contacted and police are keeping them informed of developments, they said.
Today roads around the open country area of the attack, were sealed off by police as a large scale probe into the killing of the woman continued.
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Officers say the victim of the attack is believed to have been walking a "number of dogs" at the time of the incident.
Today roads around the open country area of the attack, were sealed off by police as a large scale probe into the killing of the woman continued.
No arrests have been made at this time
Locals have said that yesterday's attack has left the community in the town of Caterham "feeling really anxious".
Lesley Hoffley, 62, lives in Weald Way, just yards away from a police sign cornering off Gravelly Hill, near where the incident happened.
The part-time copywriter said: "No one seems to know anything and the police haven't been in touch at all. All we know is from what we see on the news.
"We don't know if the young lady was a local. It's hard to say because people come from all over to Gravelly Hill.
"It's a lovely walking spot so there's always cars parked there belonging to people from outside the area. It's got a stunning view of the North Downs.
"We found out about the incident yesterday and it really shocked me and my husband. I've never known it to have a problem with dog attacks before.
"It just doesn't really make any sense. Why are there seven dangerous dogs around there and how did it happen? None of us who live round here have any idea.
"The wording of the police statement also is quite worrying. They say they think they've caught all seven dogs but how can they know?
"It's left the community feeling really anxious and, of course, heartbroken for whoever this young lady was."
Another neighbour in the rural area close to the M25 told The Sun : "It's unbelievable. We've not had too many details about it but everyone has been shaken by the news.
"This could have happened to anyone. All our thoughts are with the girl's family."
Yesterday, Chief Inspector Alan Sproston said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who sadly died this afternoon.
“This incident will be concerning to the local community and I would like to reassure them that we believe all dogs have been accounted for and are in police custody.
“Our investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident remains ongoing and we would ask the community not to speculate.”
Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, offered her condolences to the family of the woman killed in the attack and thanked police officers for their work in detaining the dogs.
She said: "My thoughts are with the loved ones of the lady who has died following a dog attack in Caterham this afternoon. Another lady was injured but is thankfully recovering in hospital.
"Thank you to the paramedics for their efforts at the scene, and officers from Surrey Police who controlled the situation so quickly."
At the end of last year, The Mirror demanded new laws on dangerous dogs after our investigation showed a 26% rise in attacks since the pandemic began in 2020.
The death of Ann Dunn, 65, in October was the ninth fatal attack in 2022, making it the deadliest year on record.
After we asked police forces for data on dog attacks, 30 responded to reveal almost 10,000 crimes involving dogs so far this year.
There were 7,790 incidents from January to July in 2020, rising to 9,834 for the same period this year – a 26% increase.
Since the Office for National Statistics began recording fatal dog attacks in 2013, there have never been more than five a year.
It is estimated that there are now 12 million dogs in the UK, two million more than before lockdown.
