Dog attack Manurewa: 70-year-old great-grandfather rescues man being attacked

Paul Dorè speaks about the moment he saved his neighbour, who was being attacked by two “bull mastiff type” dogs in Sturdee St, Manurewa early this afternoon. Video / Cherie Howie

An Auckland man being held against a wall and attacked by two dogs was saved when a 70-year-old great-grandfather pulled his car over and used his flip-flop to fend off the vicious animals.

Paul Dore shakes hands with a man he saved from a dog attack. The man's son, Davinder Singh (right), said Dore was a "big, fearless man". Photo / Cherie Howie

Davinder Singh, the son of the injured man, said his father was attacked by two dogs and bitten on his legs and hands.

Singh said Paul Dore, who also lives on the street, pulled over to help and he was also attacked.

“He was a big, fearless guy so he punched and all that and took them off but they bit him on the elbow and on the hand.”

Paul Dore shows his injuries after a dog attack. Photo / Cherie Howie

He told the Herald the man had a deep cut on his hand.

“Police came and the ambulance came as well.”

Dore told the Herald that when he spotted him the man was stuck.

“At first I was a bit confused, thinking, ‘are those dogs with him?’ Then I realised they weren’t, that they were having a go at him.”

An ambulance waits outside a proprty on Sturdee Rd in Manurewa after reports of a person attacked by an animal. Photo / Cherie Howie

Dore described the dogs as “young, pure white bullmastiff types”.

“I’m thinking if it’s a young kid [they had attacked], what sort of state they’d be in now if they were willing to take me on.”

Dore said the dogs backed off when he raised a flip-flop above his head.

“They turned and I was going after them at this stage, thinking I’m not backing down … Best way to handle this is to attack them, and then they ran.”

He told the Herald they must have sensed that “this guy’s a crazy idiot”.

Singh said a neighbour told them the dogs had been seen in the area before.

Davinder Singh hugs Paul Dore, thanking him for saving his father. Photo / Cherie Howie

He said his father and the man who helped him were okay, but medical staff were checking them over.

A spokesperson for Hato Hone St John said the ambulance agency was notified of an animal-related incident at 11.32am today on Sturdee Rd, Manuerwa.

“We responded with two ambulances and one rapid response vehicle. Two patients, both in a moderate condition, were assessed and treated at the scene.”

Police confirmed staff had assisted.

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