Lincoln dog attack: Owner arrested after woman's skin ‘ripped back exposing skull’

Police tracked down the dog, believed to be an American pitbull-type breed, using armed officers and a helicopter last night

The 22-year-old victim of the attack was set to undergo surgery for her 'devastating injuries' at Lincoln County Hospital (pictured) on Monday morning (Google)

A 22-year-old woman has been left with what police described as “devastating injuries” after a dog attack in Lincoln.

Police said the 33-year-old male owner of the dog, who is thought to be known to the victim, has been arrested, while the animal itself was being held in kennels after it was caught in a hunt by armed officers and a helicopter.

A police spokesperson told the BBC that in the course of the attack the skin on the woman's head was “ripped back exposing her skull”.

She also suffered “deep facial gouges on her cheeks”, Lincolnshire Police said, and is expected to undergo surgery later today.

An extensive hunt for the animal was called after staff at Lincoln County Hospital raised the alarm when she was admitted at 10.30pm last night.

Officers said their efforts centred on an old quarry in the Outer Circle Road area of the city, and the hunt was concluded with the capture of the dog at 1.30am.

While the search was ongoing, police warned members of the public to “stay away from the area for their own safety at this time”.

Police say a 33-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act and also for affray, after an alleged incident when police tried to seize the dog from his home on Keats Close, Lincoln.

A spokesperson for the force said they believed the animal to be a predominantly-white, male American pitbull, and that they expect magistrates to approve an order to have the dog destroyed.