'Horrific and distressing': man critical, two hurt in Sydney dog attack
Graphic images: Paramedics have praised the efforts of bystanders who tried to stop a dog attack in Sydney's west that left a man fighting for his life and a woman and child in hospital.
Emergency services, including police, six ambulance crews and a CareFlight helicopter, were called to a home on Vincennes Avenue in Tregear about 1pm on Thursday following reports three people had been attacked by two dogs.
The 40-year-old man went into cardiac arrest after he was bitten multiple times, NSW Ambulance Inspector Phil Templeman said.
"He had injuries to his face, to his abdomen, to his chest; he sustained quite a significant number of bites," Inspector Templeman said.
The man was resuscitated before being placed in an induced coma, CareFlight said. He was also given a blood transfusion before he was taken by road to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.
Inspector Templeman said all three patients required "a lot of clinical intervention" at the scene before they could be taken to hospital.
The victims included a 10-year-old girl who suffered a large bite to her back, he said
"Her mother also sustained injuries to the arm while she was trying to defend the child from the dogs," he said.
The girl and her mother, 30, were taken to The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Westmead Hospital respectively in stable conditions.
Inspector Templeman praised the efforts of emergency services, who were on the scene "within minutes" of the first triple zero call, as well as the efforts of bystanders.
"There were two to three other adults on scene with blood on their clothing," he said.
"Everybody who was on scene, and such a horrific and distressing scene, should be commended for their efforts to try and bring these animals under control and potentially saved the lives of these victims."
Police said the dogs had been secured and officers were investigating. The dogs are believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers.