Man, 34, killed in dog attack as victim mauled in Hampshire park

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerous dog

The attack took place in a park in Fareham, Hampshire (Google)

A man has died after a dog attack in a park in Hampshire, police have said.

The 34-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene in the town of Fareham on Wednesday morning.

Police had been called to a recreation ground on Hillson Drive at about 10.25am.

A 20-year-old man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

Have you been affected by this story? If so email matt.mathers@independent.co.uk

He has been released from custody without charge but remains under investigation while enquiries continue, Hampshire Police said.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene but were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead in the park.

The force said a dog was secured and removed from the scene, while the victim’s family has been informed.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are speaking to people in the area and carrying out other lines of enquiry to establish how the man died.

"As part of our enquiries a 20-year-old man from Fareham has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

"He has been released from custody without charge but remains under investigation while enquiries continue."

It is the second serious dog attack in England in just over a month. A toddler was airlifted to hospital after being attacked by a dog in Faversham, Kent on 7 July.

There have been a number of other dog attacks this year,

Daniel John Twigg, 3, was killed by a dog outside a property in Milnrow, Rochdale in May.

Just a month earlier, Romy Griffiths, 2, suffered severe facial injuries after being bitten by the family’s eight-year-old family dog Blizzard.

In March Bella-Rae Birch died in hospital from her injuries following a dog attack at her home in Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside.