A woman in her 40s was attacked by a dog in Bristol, leading to a swift response from emergency teams and raising concerns about the incident.
Emergency services responded to a distressing incident in Bristol on Thursday, April 10, where a woman in her 40s was attacked by a dog at approximately 4.15pm. The attack occurred on Sutton Avenue in the Brislington area, prompting a rapid response from both local police and medical teams.
Witnesses reported hearing horrified screams, particularly from children, before descending into an unsettling silence. A nearby resident recounted hearing what he described as “the chilling sound of children’s screams” emanating from the house. Speaking to Bristol Live, he remarked, “I had never seen a dog so nasty in all my life,” further commenting on the situation by stating, “Vicious, he was. The kids were screaming and I thought ‘there’s something serious going on in there.’ Then it all went quiet. I thought ‘well, he must have got the dog in’. It’s a big dog, mind.”
As the situation unfolded, an air ambulance was spotted landing in a nearby field, highlighting the urgency of the response to the incident. The woman was subsequently transported to a hospital with injuries described as potentially “life-changing.”
Avon and Somerset Police established a presence at the scene and continued their investigation through the night. While the breed of the dog involved has not been officially confirmed, it is believed to be an XL Bully type breed. Officers used protective shields while securing entry to the property, ensuring their safety during the intervention.
In a statement released by Avon and Somerset Police, they confirmed the details of the incident, stating: “Emergency services were called at about 4.15pm on Thursday 10 April after a woman was bitten by a dog at a home in Sutton Avenue, Bristol. The woman, believed to be in her forties, has gone to hospital by land ambulance, with injuries currently described as potentially life-changing.”
As investigations continued, the police remained at the location, keeping the dog contained until specialist dog handlers could respond to the situation.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/xl-bully-dog-attack-woman-bristol-b2731277.html – This article confirms that a woman was attacked by a dog that is suspected to be an XL bully, sustaining potentially life-changing injuries, and that the incident occurred at a home in Sutton Avenue, Bristol at around 4:15 PM.
- https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2025/04/woman-hospitalised-after-dog-attack/ – The Avon and Somerset Police report corroborates the details of the dog attack, confirming that emergency services were called and the victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
- https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/dog-attack-sutton-avenue-bristol-8345397 – This news piece includes eyewitness accounts of the screams heard during the attack and mentions the police’s use of protective shields while responding to the incident, aligning with the descriptions given in the original article.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-65456203 – The BBC article discusses the response by police and medical teams to the dog attack, and highlights the use of an air ambulance, which underscores the urgency of the situation as described in the original article.
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bristol-woman-dog-attack-injuries-april-2025/ – CBS News provides additional context on the seriousness of the woman’s injuries and the ongoing investigation by police, reinforcing the claim of potentially life-changing injuries following the attack.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The event occurred on April 10, 2025, which is very recent. This indicates high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative includes a direct quote from a nearby resident. While I couldn’t find an earlier source for the quote, it appears to be first-hand testimony rather than a repeat from previous reports.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable news outlet (Wales Online) but also references another source (Bristol Live). Both are reliable local news sources.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident involves a serious dog attack, which is plausible and consistent with similar reports. Details such as police presence, air ambulance response, and life-changing injuries support the narrative’s plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is very recent, includes plausible details of a serious incident, and references reliable local news outlets. Quotes appear to be first-hand testimony, further supporting the validity of the account.
