A lawyer whose dog mauled Freddie Mercury the seal to death has apologised for the attack and says she is "heartbroken"
Rebecca Sabben-Clare QC, 49, was identified as the person seen running towards the scene as a passerby tried to drag Toby the dog from the nine-month-old pup.
Now Ms Sabben-Clare has said she wanted to “apologise unreservedly” for the “terrible accident”.
She added that she wished her unleashed pet had been on a lead to prevent the fatal mauling of the seal on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday.
Freddie had to be put down by vets at a wildlife hospital after suffering a broken flipper that meant he could not be released back into the wild.
A huge outcry followed, with demands for the dog’s owner to be held responsible.
Speaking to The Evening Standard, Ms Sabben-Clare said: "As an animal lover, I fully understand the dismay that has been expressed.
"I apologise unreservedly for what happened. In hindsight I wish, of course, that the dog had been on a lead but at the time that did not seem necessary.
“I am hugely grateful to all those who helped at the scene. They were heroic."
A neighbour told the Mirror the pooch was “not a cross breed and not an aggressive dog.”
They added: “He has no history of this and is super sweet with our dogs.
“I don’t know the breed. But she (Rebecca) is a nice person. It could happen to anyone.”
The lawyer went on to say she left the scene after fearing for her own safety but did leave her contact details with a vet who was tending to the stricken seal.
Freddie regularly entertained walkers while sunbathing near Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes, South West London and his death has seen an outpouring of grief on social media.
Signs on trees approaching the slipway read: “Please put your dog on a lead. Keep them away from seal.”
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue, whose medics treated Freddie at the scene before taking him to South Essex Wildlife Hospital, said: “We contacted a number of marine mammal veterinarians...and sadly based on their experiences the decision is that he needed to be euthanised for his welfare.”
