SOUTH AFRICA -- Pit bull breeder Charles Murray, 48, who was mauled by four of his dogs last week, died in the intensive care unit of the Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi at 3am on Saturday.
Murray was mauled at his Margate home after a car on which he was working fell on top of him. When he began screaming for help, the dogs attacked him.
Doctors and nurses were shocked when Murray was brought into the hospital. They had to amputate his left leg.
Murray sustained injuries to his neck, stomach, arms, legs, a number of his ribs were broken and he suffered fractures to a number of other bones.
SURPRISED OWNER
According to Murray's son, Frank, the dogs had been relentless in their attack on his father. Murray jnr said his father had "pampered" his dogs and "taken special care of them".
A neighbor, Rod Myburgh (who was also bitten), fought off the dogs with a pole and even when he managed to beat one hard, it continued with its attack.
Murray's wife, Marie, shot one dog, hitting it in the shoulder. It stopped for a second and then continued to attack the helpless man.
SAPS Dog Unit members arrived and shot two of the dogs and took the others to the SPCA, where they were put down.
(IOL ZA - November 10, 2003)
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