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I thought girl was going to die - dog attack hero

Steve Hubbard/BBC John Goude is looking at the camera and wearing a black T-shirt. He is sitting on a leather sofa in his living room and has greying hair and a beardSteve Hubbard/BBC
John Goude, 52, says adrenalin kicked in and he "couldn't stand back and watch a teenager die"

A neighbour has described the moment he helped save a woman who was being attacked by her pet dog.

Two women were taken to hospital with serious injuries following the attack on Papworth Road, March at about 10:45 GMT on Sunday.

Cambridgeshire Police said the incident involved a mixed-breed dog, which the force said was not thought to have been covered by dangerous dog legislation.

John Goude left his house to help one of the victims whose forearm was in the dog's mouth, dragged it off her and sustained minor bite injuries himself.

Steve Hubbard/BBC A residential street in March, houses and bungalows can been seen on both sides of the road, with fallen leaves on the pathSteve Hubbard/BBC
People who saw the dog attack on Papworth Road say they feel traumatised

"A neighbour phoned me, and asked me to check out a commotion that was unfolding across the road from me," said Mr Goude.

"I went out and was shocked to see a teenage girl being attacked by a dog.

"Her forearm was in its mouth; she was screaming and shouting trying to get it off; it was terrifying."

Mr Goude says he "thought [the victim] was going to die" if no-one stepped in.

"I've had Staffies in the past, and this dog was bigger and had a wider mouth," he said.

"I lost track of time, but it was probably about 10-15 minutes I had to pin it down on the gravel for before the police arrived.

"I'm not out to be a hero; I was just doing what I had to do."

He said that once she was free, the victim got into a nearby car.

John Devine/BBC A forearm of John Goude with red bite marks below his elbow.John Devine/BBC
John Goude suffered dog bites to both arms and said he used a walking stick to try and get the dog off the teenager

The women were taken to Peterborough City Hospital where they remained with serious, but not life-threatening, bite injuries.

The dog was put down after being seized by police.

The animal was owned by the women, and police confirmed they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

John Devine/BBC Lee Darling, 37, has a grey fleece with black lining in the hood, he had a thick silver chain around his neck. He has stubbly chin and short dark cropped hair, behind him is Papworth Road, where the attack took place, bungalows either side of the street.John Devine/BBC
Lee Darling, 37, said he could not "unsee" arm in the dog's mouth

Eyewitnesses who spoke to the BBC said they agreed the injuries could have been a lot worse if Mr Goude had not stepped in.

Some of them said they initially thought it was children messing about.

"The screams seemed to go on for about five minutes, so I came out to investigate," said Lee Darling.

"The dog had half of the person's arm in its mouth, but not just locked on - it was shaking her.

"I thought it was coming off; it was horrendous; I can't unsee it."

He added that his five-year-old son came out with him and he was relieved he was not attacked.

John Devine/BBC Charlotte Lewis, 36, standing on the doorstep of her home, she has long blonde hair, with a pony tail resting on her right shoulder. She is wearing a grey and white fluffy dressing gownJohn Devine/BBC
Charlotte Lewis, 36, said she thought the women were being attacked by another person when she first heard the screams

Charlotte Lewis said the attack had happened just outside her home, and it had made her wary of other dogs.

"There were just people standing around, not knowing what to do," she said.

"Had it have been a person attacking the young girl I'm sure people would have got involved quicker.

"I thought about stepping in, but it was a very stocky, big dog, even when the police came they didn't know exactly what to do, it was only when the dog section arrived that they got it in a van."

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