Mother and her baby son attacked by two pitbulls - but dogs' owner walks away



A mother has told how she was mauled by two pitbull terriers and her baby knocked to the ground in his pram.



Concert pianist Mary Duella, who was left with deep wounds to her arm and leg, is due to have a skin graft and faces permanent scarring.



She is also unsure if she will be able to play the piano professionally again but is determined to resume her career.



Mauled: Mary Duella, 35, suffered deep wounds to her arm and leg after being attacked by two pitbull terriers

The 35-year-old was walking home with her 19-month-old-son Daithi after playing at a jazz concert nearby to raise awareness for an arts cafe.



She was metres away from her home next to Plumstead Common last Sunday when two dogs ran past her as their owner shouted at them to come back.



'They just turned on me, knocking me to the floor and the baby's buggy was knocked over too,' she said.



Knocked over: 19-month-old Daithi Duella was sleeping in his pram at the time of the attack

'I had one attached to my arm, another to my leg and I had all these things racing through my mind.



'The first was my baby - as long as they were on me they couldn't attack him. Mercifully he was still asleep and so not making any noise.



'The second was my career and if I'd ever be able to play again. I just had to lie there and wait for them to stop.'

Eventually the owner managed to pull the dogs off Ms Duella before putting them on a leash and calmly walking away from the scene as neighbours, who heard Ms Duella's screams, came out to help her.



Husband Darragh Morgan, also a professional musician, cancelled the rest of his tour in Lisbon to catch the first flight home on hearing the news.



Ms Duella was taken to St Thomas' Hospital where she has had two operations while under general anaesthetic to remove dead skin and deep clean the wounds.



She is due to have skin removed from one part of her leg to be grafted onto the leg wound.



The bites were so deep her muscles have been ruptured, but both Ms Duella and violinist Mr Morgan are hopeful that she will fully recover.



Mr Morgan, 34, said: 'It was just horrible being away from her when I heard what had happened.



'Of course I cancelled the rest of my performances and the next tour and Mary has had to begin postponing concerts until next year.



Vicious: Mary believes the law should be tougher on the owners of pitbull terriers

'She is shattered from not getting any sleep in hospital and keen to get some counselling.



'Our moods are swinging from shock, to anger at the owner and these types of dogs. There's also a huge amount of relief that it wasn't worse. If it had been the baby he would have been killed.



'I truly believe that the law should be a lot tougher and if anyone is even caught with one of these dogs not on a leash they should be prosecuted.'

Police are investigating the attack.

