Man bitten by own dog dies

A man died after he was attacked by his Staffordshire bull terrier while a BBC documentary film crew were visiting him.

The man, named by neighbours as Mario Perivoitos, wasbitten by his dog at his home inNorman Close inWoodGreen, north London.

Police were called at around 10.25pm on March 20 and the 41-year-old was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead early on March 21.

Apost-mortem examination gave the cause of death as “hypovolemic shock and damage to the airway consistent with a dog bite”, the Metropolitan Police said.

Hypovolemic shock occurs when the body loses more than a fifth of its blood.

Neighbours in the block said Mr Perivoitos was believed to have lived in the building for more than 20 years.

Geoff Morgan, 52, who was home at the time, heard a commotion coming from a flat below him.

He said: “I heard shouting ‘Get him off! Get him off me!’ He was bleeding from his neck. There was a lot of blood.”

A BBC film crew making a documentary were present during the incident, police said.

A BBC spokesman said: “A crewmaking a BBC documentary

“I heard shouting Get him off! Get him off me! He was bleeding”

were present – but not filming – at the time of the incident and called an ambulance. Given the ongoing inquiries, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”

An antisocial behaviour closure order posted onMr Perivoitos’s door said only the tenant was allowed to access the flat.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and next of kin have been informed, police added.

The dog was seized by police and remains in secure kennels.