A YOUNG north-east father was left minutes from death after being savaged by a dog.
Joseph Kirton’s mother, Kerry, said last night: “He was left with blood pouring from his wounds and was five minutes away from bleeding to death.
“One wound was ‘millimetres’ from a major artery in his leg, he was told by a paramedic in the ambulance as it took him to hospital.”
The incident involving Mr Kirton happened in the Hardgate area of Aberdeen in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 21-year-old dad of one was left with back, arm, leg and face wounds which have left him scarred for life, according to his mother.
And last night, Mrs Kirton praised a Good Samaritan who saved her son’s life as he tried to walk home, despite losing pints of blood.
She said, from her home in Tern Road, Cove: “The man saw Joseph, and how much he was bleeding, stopped him in nearby Willowbank Road and told him ‘you are not going any further’.
“If he had not done that, I would have been going to see Joseph in a mortuary, and not in the hospital.
“He called the ambulance and waited with him until it came- there is no doubt that he saved my son’s life.
“His face is a mess and he is bandaged up, he has already had one operation and will have another one on Monday when they will be opening up some of his wounds, cleaning them up, then stitching him up again. What a kind soul his Good Samaritan was, as are friends, family, and total strangers, who have shown so much compassion to our family over the last few days.”
Police confirmed last night that a 19-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident and is due to appear in court tomorrow.