An 84-year-old man has died in hospital over a month after being badly injured in an XL bully attack in Cheshire. The attack occurred on Bardsley Avenue, Warrington, on the evening of Monday, February 24, 2025, when the pensioner was walking home. Reports indicate that armed police were called to the scene following the alarming incident, which involved two XL bully dogs that had escaped from a nearby home.
Upon arrival, police were met with a chaotic scene. Officers fired a total of 19 shots, killing two of the dogs to bring the attack to an end, while a third, smaller dog was seized. Despite the best efforts of medical staff at Aintree Hospital, the victim succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Detectives revealed that the victim had fought valiantly for his life after the attack, but tragically, his injuries proved too severe. In a statement, Detective Inspector Simon Mills expressed his condolences, stating, "To endure such pain and anguish at the hands of an animal is unimaginable, and I cannot begin to comprehend the distress that his family are currently suffering following such a horrific incident." He added, "Nobody should have to go through what they have experienced, and our specialist officers are providing them with the support they need at this truly awful time."
The incident has raised significant concerns about the ownership of XL bully dogs, a breed that has been under scrutiny since being classified as dangerous. Sean Garner, a 30-year-old man from Liverpool, has been charged with one count of being the owner of a dangerously out-of-control dog causing serious injury, as well as two counts of possession or custody of a dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. This legislation was introduced to address the growing number of serious dog attacks in the UK.
Since February 2024, it has been illegal to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. The ban was enacted following a surge in dog-related fatalities, with 16 deaths reported in 2023 alone, more than double the six fatalities recorded in the previous year. As a result, authorities have issued approximately 60,000 certificates for legal ownership, while compensation has been paid to owners in 326 euthanasia cases. Over 800 XL bully dogs have been euthanized by police forces across the country, according to the National Police Chiefs Council.
Witnesses to the attack have recounted the harrowing events. One neighbor, Vic, described seeing the victim lying on the ground and initially mistaking the situation for a heart attack. Upon realizing the severity of the attack, he rushed to help, using a yard brush in an attempt to fend off the aggressive dog. "I ran over and battered it with my yard brush. I cracked it over the head, but it didn’t work. It wouldn’t get off him," Vic recounted. He expressed deep regret for not having a more effective weapon at hand, stating, "If I'd had a gun handy, I'd have used that."
Vic's account illustrates the chaos and fear that ensued during the attack, as armed police arrived and ordered residents to stay inside. "I went back inside and looked through the window and saw the police shoot the dog dead," he said, visibly shaken by the ordeal. "I'm traumatized by what happened. There was blood on my boots and over my brush. It was everywhere."
The situation surrounding the attack remains complex. While Cheshire Police initially reported that two XL bully dogs had been involved, the details have been somewhat murky. Some news reports mention only one dog attacking the pensioner, while others confirm the involvement of two dogs, with one being shot dead inside a property. The exact nature of the victim's injuries has not been disclosed, and as of now, he has not been publicly named. His family may choose to share a tribute or photographs through the police in the coming days.
In light of the victim's death, the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing the charges against Garner to determine if they need to be amended. Garner is currently on conditional bail and is prohibited from entering Warrington under any circumstances. His case is set to return to Chester Crown Court on April 24, 2025, for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
The tragic incident has reignited discussions about dog ownership laws and public safety. Chief Constable Mark Roberts of Cheshire Constabulary remarked, "This was an innocent man who was simply walking in the street when he was horrifically attacked by a suspected unregistered XL Bully. These dogs are like weapons; their physical attributes can make it like owning a loaded firearm with a questionable safety catch."
The XL Bully, recognized as a crossbreed between the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and other bulldog breeds, was banned in the UK in 2023 due to a series of fatal attacks. Following this ban, strict regulations have been enforced, mandating that XL Bullies must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public at all times. Furthermore, it is now illegal to breed, sell, advertise, gift, exchange, abandon, or allow XL bully dogs to stray.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this horrifying event, it serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities that come with dog ownership, particularly for breeds considered dangerous. The local authorities and law enforcement continue to stress the importance of adhering to regulations designed to protect the public and prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.
