Man of 83 dies after attack by bull terrier

An elderly man died after he was attacked by an English bull terrier as he left his home to collect a prescription.

Peter Carter, who was a great-grandfather, tried to fend off the dog with his walking stick but it knocked him down outside his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and dragged him along the street.

The dog bit Mr Carter, 83, in his face, head and body before it was pulled off by its owner.

Mr Carter, who was found outside his home by his wife, was taken to Bolton General Hospital then transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, where he died.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed a Bolton man had been reported for keeping a dangerous dog. The animal is the same breed as the Princess Royal's dog, Dotty, which bit a passer-by in Windsor Great Park. That incident resulted in a £500 fine for the Princess.

Yesterday, Mr Carter's relatives called for the dog to be destroyed. Bill Brookes, his son-in-law, said: "If he had died from a stroke or old age we could cope with it better but this is just devastating. That animal ripped his cheek open and bit the back of his head. The owner dragged it off then left him on the pavement.

"His wife, Joan, who is 81, opened the door to see him covered in blood."

He said Mr Carter, a retired engineer, doted on his family.