A woman who was mauled by two out of control dogs while sinking into mud on the banks of a Sydney river has told Sutherland local court she thought she was going to die.
The alleged owner of the Irish wolfhounds has been charged over the attack and is accused of running away.
Footage shows Elle Booth up to her shoulders in mud clinging to her Jack Russell, under attack.
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“I thought I was going to die because the tide was coming,” she said.
Booth had been walking on a Sunday morning near Boggywell Creek in Lugarno in the city’s south in July 2023 when she says the unleashed Irish wolfhounds set upon her dog Indie, chasing her onto the mud flat.
“It was the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me,” she said.
Booth said a man used a hunting whistle to try and call them off but claims that as she was mauled in the mud he ran away.
The alleged owner of the dogs is George Helou.
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He was charged with causing the dog attack by his own reckless actions.
Booth and Indie were bitten repeatedly until police arrived.
Officers used capsicum spray to scare off the dogs, but an officer also became stuck.
He was finally rescued by firefighters
Indie died a few days later.
“I was able to tell her she was a good girl and give her a pat and then they took me to hospital,” Booth said.
Within two hours two Irish wolfhounds were seized from Helou’s home.
Prosecutors say they were covered in mud.
There’s no question Booth and Indie were attacked.
The key issue for prosecutors is to prove that Helou was responsible for the dogs.
He has pleaded not guilty.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
