Man mauled by dogs meets hero who saved his life

A pensioner who lost two limbs after being mauled by a pair of vicious dogs has been reunited with the man who saved his life.

Vic Franklin, 79, was attacked in August 2023 near his home in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Mr Franklin's left leg, right arm and left middle finger were later amputated.

Mr Franklin's neighbour Jim Jones saw the attack from his window. He ran towards the dogs and fought them off with a spirit level, which a court heard was likely to have saved Mr Franklin's life.

The owner of the dogs, Chloe Taylor, 27, from Chichester, was jailed for two years and three months on Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.

Speaking of the attack, Mr Franklin said: "I took the dog out for a walk up the road and all of a sudden these two dogs come round... Rottweilers.

"I remember them attacking me but I don't remember going over. I've been told I was dragged. I don't remember until I woke up in hospital a few weeks later.

"So many people, I've been told, came to my aid. I can't thank them enough."

Mr Franklin and Mr Jones have now become friends and are planning to go for a few pints together.

"I just did what anyone else would've done," said Mr Jones to his new pal.

"You're a very, very strong man to come through that."

Taylor's partner, Matthew Roberts, 30, also pleaded guilty to two counts of being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place.

He was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Both are banned from owning a dog for 10 years.

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