Sydney man tragically killed saving 10yo and woman from ‘ferocious’ dog attack

“It is apparent Colin’s former partner and her two children are fortunate to be alive…” 

WARNING: This story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person

A Yuin man who saved the lives of a woman and a 10-year-old girl from two dogs in an attack was mauled with “extreme ferocity”, an inquest has heard. 

Colin Amatto, 40, was at his home in Treager, in Sydney’s west, which he shared with an old school friend, the friend’s wife and newborn baby. 

Inside the house were three dogs, a 6yo male named Boof and a female named Hope, both Staffordshire bull terriers and a 16yo named Baby, a Staffordshire bull cross, who was not involved in the attack.

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Colin Amatto tragically died protecting his ex-partner and her two children from a dog attack. Source: Facebook

“It is apparent the woman and two children are fortunate to be alive”

The dogs reportedly had no issue with Colin and would regularly sleep in his bed at night.

On the afternoon of January 24 2019, Colin’s ex-partner and her two children were visiting the property when one of the terriers 

According to the inquest, the three dogs were intended to be put outside in the backyard when the guests were visiting. 

“Either the two younger dogs were already in the house, not having been put out the back, or by some means they had got back inside the house,” David Kell, SC, counsel assisting the coroner said. 

At 1pm, the male dog, Boof, bit one of the young girls in the stomach, which caused her to scream and cry in pain. When the girl’s mother tried to intervene, the dog then lunged and bit the woman on the arm.

“In brave fashion, Colin intervened to try to help,” said Kell. 

As the woman and her two daughters escaped the house, they shut their door on the way out, locking Colin inside with the dogs. 

“Boof then savagely attacked Colin,” Kell continued, explaining the other dog, Hope, quickly joined in on the attack. 

“It was an attack of extreme ferocity,” he said. 

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The Staffordshire bull terriers (not pictured) were euthanised a day after the attack. Source: iStock

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When the owner of the dogs returned home, he saw Hope and Boof “covered in blood” with “really big” eyes and locked them in a bathroom. 

Blood was splattered on the walls, along the floor and across the kitchen door; Colin was lying in his own blood on the kitchen floor. 

“I can’t breathe,” the 40yo said before losing consciousness. The two dogs, Hope and Boof, were euthanised the day after the attack. 

The man had suffered over 80 wounds to his torso, neck, and limbs and required multiple surgeries when he was taken to hospital. 

Sadly, Colin never regained consciousness following the attack, and his family made a heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support five weeks later.  

Speaking at the inquest, Kell explained that Colin’s actions to protect his former partner and two young girls were part of the man’s nature. 

“He died in tragic circumstances when he intervened to assist other persons from what was a ferocious dog attack,” Kell said. 

“It is apparent that [Colin’s ex-partner] and her two children are fortunate to be alive.” 

The inquest will continue before Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes on Tuesday.

Originally published as Sydney man tragically killed saving 10yo and woman from ‘ferocious’ dog attack