A dog-walker who was mauled to death after being set upon by eight crazed animals under her charge, including her own banned bull terrier, suffered penetrating dog bites to her torso, neck and arms during the attack.Â
Natasha Johnston, 28, was killed near Gravelly Hill in Caterham on January 12, 2023 – after she had lost control of the pack of dogs she was walking.
A post mortem revealed her cause of death as shock and haemorrhage including perforation of the left jugular vein.
At the inquest into her death, Senior Coroner Richard Travers said that he will prepare a Prevention of Future Deaths Report for Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about restrictions for dog-walkers in public places.
Mr Travers confirmed during the hearing that ‘there are no national restrictions or regulations regarding the number and weight of dogs that can be walked in a public place.’
The inquest was told Ms Johnston, from Croydon in south London, was found by walker Ben Kershaw down a slope in the picturesque Surrey beauty spot – after he had been approached by the dogs which were off their leads and running around.
But despite efforts by Mr Kershaw, police officers, and paramedics administering CPR to Ms Johnston, she was pronounced dead at 3.29pm.
Shortly before her death, Ms Johnston had been seen on the ground with five or six dogs around her shouting ‘go back, ‘go back’.
