Police hunt three men after off-the-leash dog savaged mother and her two young children while they hunted for Easter eggs in south London park
- Family were taking part in egg hunt in Bushy Park, Hampton, on Easter Sunday
- A dog who was off the lead came over and left mother and two children injured
- Officers say woman and daughter, 9, suffered deep bite wounds during attack
- Boy, 10, was also bitten on the arm and all three were taken to hospital by medics
- Do you recognise these men? Get in touch at [email protected]
Police are hunting three men after a dog that was not on a leash savagely attacked a mother and her two young children while they were on an Easter egg hunt in a London park.
The family say the horrific attack has left them ‘scarred for life’ due to the trauma of the incident which took place while they were enjoying an afternoon out on Easter Sunday.
Officers rushed to the scene and found the mother and her nine-year-old daughter had been left with deep bite wounds while her ten-year-old son had been bitten on the arm.
The attack took place on Easter Sunday while the family, including the father who was left unharmed, were out hunting for eggs in the afternoon.
It follows reports that a deer died after being chased into a fence by a dog in the same park, prompting police to warn dog owners to be ‘mindful’.
Police said the animal was let off its lead by a dog walker and ran into some woods where it chased the deer.
Police are appealing for information after a mother and her two young children were injured during a dog attack in London’s Bushy Park while they hunted Easter eggs on Easter Sunday
Police officers are looking to speak to this man in connection with the dog attack in the park
Speaking to the Richmond and Twickenham Times, the father, who said he has suffered from flashbacks and wakes up in cold sweats, described the incident as ‘the most horrific experience in my life’.
He said: ‘We were close to the Sandy Lane Gate, near the BMX track. There were a group of men sitting in the trees with three dogs smoking cannabis nearby.
‘My children were just searching for eggs in the trees when a dog appeared and mauled my daughter.
‘I saw it in slow motion. She panicked and the dog went into a frenzy and went for her.
‘My wife got in between my daughter and the dog and took a tooth through her hand. I tried to get the dog off by kicking it but it then chased my son.’
‘Finally, the owner ran over and jumped on the dog to control it, though it was clear he had no control over it.
‘He tried to blame our children for running, but children deserve every right to run in a park without being mauled by a vicious dog.’
Police and the London Ambulance Service arrived at the park shortly before 6pm and the mother and her two children were treated before being taken to hospital.
The father, who asked to remain anonymous, said he doesn’t know how his daughter survived let alone managed to keep her arm and that had it been a younger child, he fears they would have been killed.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police are now looking to speak to three men in connection with the attack.
The force say reports suggest they ran towards Vicarage Road, near Hampton Wick Station.
The man thought to be the dog’s owner was described by police as a light-skinned black male with a moustache and hair on his chin, wearing a yellow and black top and black trousers.
Police released images of these two men they would like to trace in connection with the attack
They added: ‘Police are looking to speak to three males involved in a dog attack causing serious injury to victims in Bushy Park on Easter Sunday April 4 at around 5.30pm.
‘If you have information or know the males please call police on 101 with reference to report 0703049/21.’
It follows reports that a deer died after being chased into a fence by a dog in the same park.
Police said the animal was let off its lead by a dog walker and ran into some woods where it chased the deer.
Royal Parks Police said the deer died after it ran into a fence.
A spokesman for the force said: ‘A dog walker had his dog off its lead in Millennium Woods in Bushy Park when it chased some deer.
‘One of the deer ran into the fence and unfortunately died.
‘These woods are not supposed to have deer in them, however they have managed to gain access.
‘Please be mindful when walking dogs in the park, that the deer can appear in unexpected places.’
- Do you recognise these men? Get in touch at [email protected]