Man terrified by park dog attack

Phil Bowen was injured protecting his pet Honey

A man has been attacked by three Boxer dogs in a Londonderry park as he tried to protect his puppy from harm.

Phil Bowen from Creggan was walking his dog Honey in Brooke Park on Friday when they were attacked.

He had to use his walking stick to try and beat off the dogs, which bit him on the face and body.

"It was the most frightening experience I've ever had. Even through all the troubles, I've never been as scared as I was in those six minutes," he said.

It took staff in Altnagelvin hospital three hours to treat Mr Bowen's injuries.

He said his main concern was the safety of his own dog.

"I picked her up to protect her my arms and they started going for me, jumping all round me and biting me and headbutting me.

"I started to beat one with a stick, and as I was hitting one the other two were coming at me and I was fighting a losing battle.

"All the owner said was, 'I'm sorry about that,' and he walked away."

Mr Bowen said a child could easily have been killed.

"I'll never be back in that park again, farthest I go now is down the street with the wee dog

"Usually in that park there are wee kids with dogs, if it had been a wee girl or wee lad, or older person, it could have been a lot worse," he said.