United Kingdom: Pit bull "locked its jaws around" owner's mother -- and ripped off her hand

UNITED KINGDOM -- Around 30 horrified residents came to the woman’s aid after it locked its jaws around her hand - the dog was eventually pried away by a neighbor.

A pit bull ripped off the hand of its owner's mother in a savage 18-minute attack, as terrified bystanders desperately tried to save her.

The 52-year-old woman was walking the animal in Northern Moor, Manchester, on Wednesday evening when it locked it’s jaw around her hand.

Brave neighbors, who would only give their names as Liz and Leanne, came to the woman’s aid when they heard her terrified screams.

Leanne, 30, tried to approach the dog but it was 18 minutes before they could loosen the dog’s grip but it had already severed her hand from her arm.

Around 30 horrified residents came to the woman’s aid and the dog was eventually pried away from her by a 34-year-old man.

She was taken into a friend’s house with her severed hand until an ambulance arrived to take her to hospital.

The 34-year-old man, who also suffered numerous bite injuries, helped officers restrain the dog before it was locked in a cage and taken away by GMP.

A police spokesman confirmed the woman received severe injuries following the attack, reports Manchester Evening News.

She is undergoing surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital but the attack could result in the permanent loss of her hand, police say.

Liz, 32, said the attack was like a scene from the horror film Saw.

She said: “My friend approached the dog to try and distract it. We were all alone and then more people came.

"It was a miracle that the dog let go of the lady.

"It was between 13 to 17 minutes it locked it’s jaw around her. We took her into my house, she lay on my sofa covered in blood. Her hand had been severed.”

She added: “All residents came out to help, we are a good community. Nobody on this estate just stayed indoors, we all came out to help.”

A spokesman from GMP said: “A woman has undergone surgery after being attacked by a dog in Northern Moor.

“At around 8.25pm on Wednesday 6 January 2015, police were called to Holwick Road, Northern Moor, following reports that a woman had been attacked by her son’s pit bull, which she had been walking as a favour to him.

“Officers attended and discovered a 52-year-old woman with severe injuries to her right arm and a 34-year-old man with numerous bite injuries.

“Both the woman and the 34-year-old man, who had assisted in subduing and restraining the dog before officers arrived, were taken to Wythenshawe Hospital for treatment.”

The police investigation is on-going.

(Mirror UK - Jan 7, 2015)