Juby Mathew
It started as just an ordinary day for Juby Mathew as he drove to his
friend's house one afternoon. But during that journey he was to face his
greatest fear head on, risking his life and becoming a hero as he rescued
a little boy from the jaws of a vicious dog.
As Juby, 31, slowed his car to negotiate a narrow street, something
caught his eye. To his horror, he saw four-year-old Brwa Hassan lying on
the floor, being mauled by a savage pitbull-type dog as his mother Amira
screamed helplessly to try and stop it.
The sight was doubly terrifying for the father-of-two, as it brought back
frightening memories of when he was attacked by a dog at the
age of nine.
But while some people would be paralysed with fear, Juby stopped the car
and rushed to the little boy's aid.
As he tried to kick the animal away, it switched its attention to Juby,
clamping its jaws around his leg, leaving a huge bleeding wound. He
wrestled with the animal for 10 minutes, trying to keep it away from
Brwa.
But as he battled the crazed dog with the child in his arms, Juby fell
into the road fracturing his hand so badly that the bone at the base of
his wrist was sticking through his skin.
Eventually, someone whisked the toddler out of Juby's arms and to safety
in a nearby house. The warehouse worker from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
then managed to keep the
dog distracted, stopping it attacking anyone else, before escaping to his
car.
Juby was off work for five months, and had to undergo painful surgery and
physiotherapy. Little Brwa was treated in hospital for his injuries and
was left with scars on his body. The dog was later captured by the police
and destroyed.
"I am very scared of dogs after what happened to me," says Juby, "and I
was terrified by what I saw. I didn't have time to think about that
though.
"I just saw what was happening to the boy, and knew he would be badly
hurt if someone did not help him.
"I was just thinking about my own children, and how I would want someone
to help them. I could not forgive myself if I didn't step in."
Brwa's mum Amira adds, "I was very terrified that I was going to lose my
son. I was so grateful that Juby was there. My son would not be here now
if it wasn't for him."
PC Martin Guy of West Yorkshire Police says, "We would never encourage
people to put their own safety at risk, but on this occasion no one could
deny how courageous Juby was. He must have been terrified.
"It is well documented just how dangerous these dogs can be. Without
Juby's intervention the outcome could well have been far, far worse."