A 22-year-old man has shared the harrowing details of how he risked his own safety to rescue a mother and her one-week-old baby from a brutal attack by three dogs.
William Newbury, from Roath, Cardiff, was delivering baby gifts to a friend on Mother’s Day when he witnessed the terrifying attack through the letterbox of a house in Llanrumney. Newbury described the moment as a “nightmare,” recalling how he saw the woman and infant being mauled by three Staffordshire bull terriers.
In an effort to intervene, Newbury climbed through an open window, only to be attacked by the dogs himself. Despite being severely injured, including the loss of function in two fingers on his left hand, he managed to help the mother and baby to safety.
South Wales Police confirmed the three dogs involved in the attack were euthanized, but no arrests have been made. The incident occurred on March 30, 2025.
Newbury, who had heard what he initially thought was a baby crying, arrived at the house to find the horrifying scene. “When I looked through the letterbox, I saw the mum and baby being attacked by three dogs,” he said. Despite his attempts to distract the animals by banging on the door and shouting, the dogs continued their assault.
With no other options, Newbury jumped through a nearby window and entered the house. He recounted that the dogs turned their attention to him, and despite his efforts to defend himself by hitting one of the animals, the attacks persisted. “They were all targeting me, and nothing I did seemed to stop them,” he said.
Newbury described being inside the house for about 20 minutes before he was rushed to the hospital with injuries covering his entire body, including his legs, hands, arms, face, stomach, and back. He spent a week in the hospital recovering from his wounds.
The mother and baby, who also sustained injuries, were treated at the hospital but their injuries were not life-threatening. Meanwhile, Newbury is facing a long recovery, with doctors informing him that his left little finger may never fully regain its functionality. Despite the trauma, Newbury remains determined not to be afraid of dogs, though he now takes precautions around them.
The experience has left him deeply shaken, with Newbury revealing that he has nightmares and replays the attack in his mind daily. “I’ve already had one counselling session to help me cope with this,” he said. “It’s a horrible thing to relive.”
South Wales Police have stated that all three individuals involved in the incident were treated for injuries that were serious but not life-threatening.