Michelle Hempstead, a 34-year-old mother of five from Southend, Essex, died in what has been described as a "freak accident" after being bitten by her own dog during a brief fight over food, according to multiple sources including Sky News, BBC, and The Independent. The inquest into her death, held at Essex Coroner's Court, painted a tragic picture of an unintended consequence arising from a seemingly innocent act.
The events unfolded late on the night of July 29, 2024, inside Hempstead's flat in Retort Close. As reported by BBC News, Hempstead was enjoying a McDonald's meal with her partner, Samuel West. She had a box of chicken nuggets and was playfully throwing them in the air for her two dogs—a small Pomeranian named Pom and a much larger mastiff-rottweiler cross called Trigg. West described to the court how Pom, the smaller dog, would eagerly go for the nuggets. "She liked to throw them up in the air and the little one, Pom, was going for the big one, not aggressively but he used to growl and snap when he wanted to get the nugget first," he recounted, as quoted by The Independent.
On this particular evening, things took a devastating turn. As Pom lunged for a nugget, Trigg "chomped his mouth" in response. West told the court, "It looked like to me it wasn't a grab. He just went to do a chomping thing and caught her under the arm." The bite, while not intended for Hempstead, was severe—Trigg's jaws caught her upper left arm and severed an artery and a vein. According to Essex Police Acting Inspector James McLean-Brown, the injury was catastrophic, leading to extensive blood loss. Hempstead managed to make it outside her flat, but collapsed soon after. Emergency services rushed her first to Southend Hospital and then to the Royal London Hospital, but she died in the early hours of July 30, 2024, due to traumatic blood loss that resulted in multiple organ failure (BBC News).
Throughout the inquest, both the coroner and Hempstead's partner emphasized Trigg's gentle nature. Samuel West described Trigg as "docile" and said, "He loved [Ms Hempstead] to death, and didn't have a bad bone in his body." He further testified that Trigg "wasn't vicious in any way, shape or form," and that the dog often slept on Hempstead's bed. West even noted, "She had previously fed Trigg food from her mouth." The coroner, Lincoln Brookes, accepted this characterization, stating that Trigg was "an otherwise gentle giant" with no history of aggression toward humans or other dogs (Sky News, The Independent).
The incident was thoroughly investigated by Essex Police due to initial concerns about the presence of other dogs at the property and the involvement of Hempstead's partner. However, as EssexLive reported, police found no suspicious circumstances and confirmed that West faced no criminal charges. Reports of two XL bully-type dogs being present were investigated, but there was "no evidence" to support that these dogs were in the flat at the time of the bite (BBC News).
Coroner Lincoln Brookes, in delivering his verdict, was unequivocal about the accidental nature of Hempstead's death. He said, "Michelle Hempstead died of the consequences of traumatic blood loss following a single bite from her large dog in her home which severed an artery. The bite was not malicious and occurred when she was caught during a brief fight between her two dogs over food." Brookes described the death as an "unintended consequence of an otherwise innocent act," adding, "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time." He also noted the "double tragedy" faced by the family, as Hempstead's death came just weeks after the loss of her eldest daughter (Sky News, The Independent).
The aftermath for the animals was equally somber. Both Trigg and Pom were seized by authorities following the incident and, as the sole owner, Hempstead had disclaimed them for destruction. According to guidance from the Metropolitan Police, such a disclaimer allows for the dogs to be euthanized, which occurred in this case (The Independent).
The inquest also featured moving tributes from Hempstead's family. Her mother, Karen, described her as "loving, resilient, not afraid to speak her mind, hard working, caring, extremely brave, resourceful, generous." A family statement shared with the court painted a picture of a woman who "would never complain" despite life's "many stumbling blocks," giving out "what little she could to anyone, especially to the children." The family remembered her as "resilient and not afraid to speak her mind. She was always caring, strong, humble and extremely brave and resourceful to those less fortunate" (BBC News, EssexLive).
The case has highlighted the unpredictable risks that can arise even in loving homes with well-behaved pets. While the incident was a rare and tragic convergence of circumstances, it has prompted some to reflect on the importance of caution when feeding pets, especially when multiple animals are involved. Yet, as the coroner and those closest to Hempstead made clear, this was not a case of negligence or malice—just a heartbreaking accident that claimed the life of a much-loved mother, daughter, and friend.
As the inquest concluded, the focus turned to the resilience and generosity of Hempstead herself, and the deep sense of loss now felt by her family and community. The tragedy remains a stark reminder of how quickly ordinary moments can turn to disaster, and how even the gentlest of animals can, in a flash, become part of an unforeseeable tragedy.
