Hero officers apply tourniquet and save woman’s life after horror dog attack in Garbutt

A woman’s arm was ripped off by her pet dog in a brutal attack, but it was the lightning-fast actions of two police officers that stopped the nightmare from turning fatal. Read their account of what happened and how they saved her.

Acting Sergeant Allister Morris and Constable Luke Eldridge have been awarded district officers certificates at the Townsville District Honors' and Awards ceremony. Picture: Shae Beplate.

• ‘He went full-blown psychotic. I’ve never seen a dog like it’

Quick-thinking cops say they were just doing their job — but their fast action after a brutal dog attack in Townsville almost certainly saved a woman’s life.

On 11 October 2024, Senior Constable Allister Morris and Constable Luke Eldridge from Townsville Station were first on the scene after an urgent call for help in Lonerganne Street, Garbutt.

What they found was a horror show. Outside her unit, 34-year-old Annmarie Walters sat covered in blood, her right arm completely severed below the elbow.

Despite the agony, she was still holding her screen door shut to stop her dog, Buddy, from escaping into the complex, where several neighbours, including children, were nearby.

The officers quickly worked out what had happened: Ms Walters had been mauled by her own dog.

Recognising the urgent danger, they grabbed a tactical first aid kit and applied a tourniquet to her arm to stop the massive bleeding.

Speaking to the Townsville Bulletin, Senior Constable Morris recalled the frantic moments.

“I was just thinking we need to save this woman’s life and prevent further blood loss,” he said.

“We didn’t have any medical aid on the scene by then, like Queensland Ambulance, so we needed to act quickly, render aid and try to stop the bleeding ourselves by the use of a tourniquet.”

Queensland Ambulance Service later praised their efforts, noting “their bravery securing the front line of the scene, effective application of an arterial tourniquet to arrest major haemorrhaging, rapid extraction of the patient … preventing the loss of life on this occasion”.

Police hose blood off the driveway of Annmarie’s Garbutt residence after she had her arm severed by her dog. Picture: Natasha Emeck

Though doctors were unable to save Ms Walters’ arm, she survived — and that’s what mattered most to the officers.

“I think most police join to help people and if we can put our training in action and actually save someone’s life. That’s fantastic,” Senior Constable Morris said.

Garbutt resident Annmarie Walters lost her arm in a gruesome dog attack. Picture: Evan Morgan

Constable Eldridge added, “After seeing all the stories that came out in the media after it happened and seeing that she probably would have died. Helping to save someone’s life. That’s very fulfilling. You don’t get that too often.”

Acting Sergeant Allister Morris and Constable Luke Eldridge were awarded District Officers Certificate at the Townsville District Honors' and Awards ceremony on Wednesday.

Originally published as Hero officers apply tourniquet and save woman’s life after horror dog attack in Garbutt