A loyal dog accidentally killed his owner as he desperately tried to protect him during an epileptic fit.
Jonathan Halstead, 35, collapsed in his bedroom on January 29 when his pet Bronson bit him in the neck and tried to drag him under the bed before acting aggressively at Halstead’s father and paramedics.
A firearms officer was called to the home, and had no choice but to shoot and kill the Staffordshire bull terrier and Bull Mastiff cross.
Despite the rescue efforts, Halstead died before he could be taken to the hospital.
The inquest done on Halstead ruled that the man died of accidental bite wounds on his neck by his distressed dog.
Halstead had suffered from epilepsy since he was ten, and had Bronson in 2013 when he was a puppy.
“In general the dog was very soft and had a good temperament but it didn’t particularly get on with other dogs,” his father Richard Halstead said.
“We did have another dog however both were a bit intolerant to each other although they were very loyal to Jonathan and myself.”
The older Halstead described how he heard a “tremendous bang,” and “knew immediately something was different about it.”
“He was lying absolutely straight absolutely still on the floor,” he said.
“Usually if Jonathan had a fit Bronson used to bark at him and try get a response from him and previously I found the least problematic way was just to let Bronson bark rather than interfere as it seemed to wind him up more.”
“However on this occasion Bronson seemed unusually distressed and was trying to pull Jonathan under the bed. I don’t think his motive was necessarily to do any harm but I couldn’t get Bronson to come away as he just wanted to stay with Jonathan,” he added.
“Bronson was being so protective and wouldn’t let anyone near him. My impression was that Jonathan was dead before he was bitten. It was just the way he fell and the weight of his fall and loudness of his crash onto the floor made me think that.”
Detective Inspector Kenneth Blain from Greater Manchester Police said firearms officer did their best to separate the dog from his owner.
“Officers had tried to distract the dog with food and commands but ultimately to remove that threat Bronson had to be shot by the firearms officer,” said Blain.