A woman walking her dog along a popular track in Sydney’s south has been rescued by helicopter after being attacked by two Irish Wolfhounds.
The 34-year-old woman ran into neck-deep mud by the Georges River to try and escape from the animals.
She broke her arm, needs surgery on her hand and had been bitten on the face, neck and legs.
Police had to use pepper spray to scare off the dogs before the rescue mission could begin in Lugarno in Sydney’s south.
Her Jack Russell, which was also mauled, was rushed to a nearby vet.
Two witnesses said they heard the woman’s screams and called for help.
They directed emergency services over the phone to the stranded and almost submerged victim.
“Every time she moved the dogs would come closer, she was trying to push them. We could see them attacking her,” Ed said.
Police pepper sprayed the dogs and they finally ran away.
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The police helicopter was called in to get the woman out as the tide started to rise.
The victim was told by NSW Fire and Rescue to take off her trousers and shoes to help her wriggle free from the thick mud.
One of the police officers also then also became trapped in the mud for 15 minutes.
Police say the two dogs responsible for the attack were being looked after by a friend of the owners who says they jumped the back fence and then were on the loose.
They’re now impounded as police try to find the owner.
“There is liability for the owner of dogs, certainly dogs that go out and attack each other and that will form part of the investigation,” Paul Callaghan from NSW Police said.
The woman is recovering in hospital.
