Cronulla Mall dog attack victim says pit bull ‘never flinched’ during bite

The woman who lost part of a finger while trying to save her small dog from a pit bull last week has revealed details of the shocking attack.

A woman who had her finger torn off by a pit bull as she tried to save her small dog at Cronulla has spoken for the first time. Picture: 9 News

A 72-year-old woman lost part of her finger and spent five days in hospital after a pit bull attacked her pet dog, forcing her to step in and save him.

Lynne Hills was walking her rescue Maltese terrier, Ollie, through Cronulla Mall on Friday when an off-leash pit bull attacked – first biting Ollie and then latching on to Ms Hill’s wrist when she tried to pull her dog away.

The dog was left with puncture wounds and a crushed leg, 9 News reported, while Ms Hill lost part of a finger and needs metal splints to hold the others in place.

Lynne Hills lost part of one finger and has metal splints holding together other fingers after a brutal dog attack in Cronulla Mall on Friday. Picture: 9 News

The pit bull had initially tried to attack Ms Hill’s rescue Maltese terrier, Ollie, before turning on her. Picture: 9 News

While her injuries seem severe, Ms Hill said she had come out of the ordeal better than she’d expected.

“I really thought I was gonna lose my whole wrist,” she said.

“No matter how much they punched him and kicked him and they threw water on him, he never flinched, at all.”

One witness told NCA NewsWire at the time the pit bull had initially attacked Ms Hill’s dog, and she was “screaming and trying to save it” before she was attacked herself.

“People came from everywhere, so I didn’t see much more until someone emerged with her little dog covered in blood,” the local woman said.

“Then (I saw) the owner with the (pit bull) now on a lead as someone got one from the Dollar Stretchers shop.

“Then I saw the lady who was attacked. Her hand was really messed up.”

The pit bull terrier from the Georges River Council area was found to be unregistered and was seized by Sutherland Shire Council after the attack, as was an unregistered cane corso from the Inner West Council area.

Both dogs have been declared restricted dangerous dogs and will have strict control measures placed upon them.

A Georges River Council spokesman said the pit bull “will not be released until Georges River Council confirm that strict control measures will be met in accordance with the prescribed enclosure requirements”.

The pit bull remains with the Sutherland Shire Council. Picture: 9 News