An amateur mixed martial arts fighter courageously defended himself against an enormous XL Bully dog in a harrowing attack that left him severely injured.
Joseph Bennett, 21, endured multiple bites and suffered a torn bicep from the 65-kilogram dog, named Hunter, while he was taking care of it for a friend.
Bennett had been outside his former home in Peacehaven, East Sussex, engaging Hunter in a game of kick-around with an old football when the dog’s muzzle unexpectedly slipped off.
The situation quickly escalated when the dog turned aggressive, prompting Bennett to drop his phone and instinctively raise his arm to shield his face and neck. The dog latched onto his arm, violently throwing him to the ground.
As Bennett began to lose consciousness from blood loss and exhaustion, his sister and brother-in-law arrived just in time, responding to a call from his parents. They managed to pull him indoors and secured the door, leaving the dog outside.
Bennett was immediately transported to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he underwent the first of three surgeries to reattach his bicep, repair blood vessels, and mend his severely damaged arms, shoulders, and chest.
The younger amateur fighter credits his MMA training for his ‘miraculous’ survival, saying those skills ‘probably saved my life’.
‘It was so fast he changed in the blink of an eye and wanted to kill me,’ Mr Bennett.
Joseph Bennett, 21, was repeatedly bitten and had his bicep torn out by the 65kg XL Bully dog, named Hunter, while looking after it for a friend. Pictured: Mr Bennett’s injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully
Mr Bennett (pictured) credits MMA training for his ‘miraculous’ survival saying those skills those ‘probably saved my life’.
Police confirmed they later destroyed the XL Bully, named Hunter (pictured) after it also mauled a police officer
‘I was on the phone to my parents at the time and they heard my screams that probably saved my life. It was just a case of trying to stay alive. There was no heroics.
‘I had to defend as all the dog wanted to do was to rip out my throat and I knew if that happened, it was game over.’
At the time, Mr Bennett was studying computer game art at college and was enjoying playing rugby and doing MMA sessions socially with friends.
‘I was really fit and enjoyed doing grappling for fun with my friends at gyms with MMA equipment and those skills probably saved my life,’ Mr Bennett said.
Police confirmed they later destroyed the dog after it also mauled a police officer.
Mr Bennett says he doesn’t blame the XL Bully for attacking him, as he says it was just doing what it was bred for.
He said: ‘I just went into survival mode and my MMA training kicked in. You don’t have to be big just know what to do. I treated it like a fight.
‘I knew if it got my throat I was a goner. So every time he lunged for my throat I just sacrificed every other body part to stay alive.
‘I don’t know anyone else who managed to survive a 20-minute fight with a bully.
‘The dog changed in the blink of an eye to a killing machine. These dogs are so powerful but it’s how they are bred. It’s not their fault.
‘If you’re in a life and death situation like me with a Bully or similar dog you need to be prepared to sacrifice other body parts just to stay alive like I did.
‘I can still live with a damaged arm and am still here. It’s a miracle that I am here today though, I am lucky to survive. I should be dead.’
Mr Bennett was rushed to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he had the first of three ops to reattach his bicep and blood vessels and stitch up his shredded arms, shoulders and chest. Pictured: Mr Bennett’s injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully
Mr Bennett said he had known Hunter for a year and had ‘never seen him be violent before’. Pictured: Mr Bennett’s injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully
Mr Bennett was taken to the hospital, where he was operated on and spent the next few months having skin grafts and in rehab but continues to suffer nightmares and panic attacks. Pictured: Mr Bennett’s injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully
Mr Bennett said he had known Hunter for a year and had ‘never seen him be violent before’.
He added: ‘Every time I had been with him before I would stroke him and play and we got on well and he had a great character so I assumed this would be the same but it wasn’t.’
Mr Bennett said the dog would bite his arm or shoulder, then let go and lunge for his face.
He continued: ‘Hunter kept coming for me. I was running on pure adrenaline and instinct and my martial arts training kicked in.
‘I knew I needed to defend and sacrifice some body parts just to stay alive.
‘The dog was chewing on my arms, shoulder and raking my chest and bit through my bicep and was throwing me around like a rag doll but I kept wrestling him away from my face.
‘I tried kicking him in his face and body whenever it let go but it made no difference.
‘I even managed to trap its head between my legs for ten seconds a few times but it was too strong and got away every time.’
His sister and brother-in-law arrived as Mr Bennett was starting to lose consciousness through extensive blood loss and exhaustion.
He said: ‘I was about to pass out when my brother-in-law bashed the dog with a metal shelving unit until it let me go and my sister dragged me in the house and managed to shut the door.’
Hunter escaped the garden, and after biting a police officer he was later destroyed.
After the attack, Hunter (pictured) escaped the garden, and after biting a police officer he was later destroyed
Mr Bennett, who has since moved house to Seaford, added that following the attack, he has suffered ‘horrific’ nightmares and flashbacks. Pictured: Mr Bennett’s injuries after being mauled by an XL Bully
Mr Bennett was rushed to the hospital, where he was operated on and spent the next few months having skin grafts and in rehab but continues to suffer nightmares and panic attacks.
‘The pain was awful as my body had been shredded by his teeth and claws and it had chewed out my bicep but it was still better than being dead,’ he said.
‘You can live with dodgy arms.’
Mr Bennett, who has since moved house to Seaford, added that following the attack, he has suffered ‘horrific’ nightmares and flashbacks.
He said: ‘I have to do things more slowly. I also have flashbacks as whenever I have shooting pains it takes me back there.
‘I can no longer draw the same now due to my damaged arm so my dream career as a video game artist is over which makes me sad.’
He has had to give up sport and playing his guitar and now works part-time in hospitality.
‘Sometimes I just don’t want to leave the house,’ Mr Bennett said.
Whereas before i was always keeping fit or out doing something now I am limited to what I can do.
‘I do used to enjoy playing the guitar but now I can’t even pick it up without it hurting.’
Mr Bennett is now taking legal action over the incident.
Associate Solicitor at njurylawyers4u, Victoria Collins said: ‘These injuries are totally horrific and life changing.
‘Joseph had his whole life ahead of him and a future career in video games and now that has gone.
‘People need to think twice before bringing dangerous dogs into their homes as pets.’
Mr Bennett – who is now hoping for a future career change in cyber security and is studying online – has one bit of advice for anyone who may be involved in a large dog attack.
He added: ‘Be prepared to sacrifice your other body parts to stay alive.
‘Hunter turned in a second and if I hadn’t sacrificed my arm repeatedly, I would have been a goner.
‘Anyone could be attacked by these dogs in their homes if they are an owner or friend or a stranger on the street.
‘You need to be prepared in case the worst happens. You must know how to defend yourself.’
Joseph is being supported in his claim by Sussex Police confirmed the attacks on Joseph and a police officer and said the dog was later destroyed.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: ‘Police were called to an address in Peacehaven, to reports of a man having been bitten by a dog.
‘The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries and a police officer also sustained injuries and received treatment at hospital.
‘The dog, an XL bully, was seized by police and destroyed by a vet.’
