Staffordshire bull terrier kills owner as film crew visits

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, was bitten by his dog at his home in Norman Close in Wood Green, north London.

Police were called at around 10:25pm on 20 March and the 41-year-old was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead early on 21 March.

A post-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 shouting really loudly. 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 Met spokesman said: “A film crew making a documentary were present during the incident and called the London Ambulance Service.

“They are assisting police with their inquiries as officers prepare a report for the coroner.”

A BBC spokesman said: “A crew making a BBC documentary 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 anti-social behaviour closure order posted on Mr 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, which is not a banned breed, was seized by police and remains in secure kennels.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she believed the dog had saved Mr Perivoitos from a seizure earlier this year.

Avraam Avramidis, 31, who lived upstairs, said Mr Perivoitos had seemed polite. He said: “Mario was a good guy. He was actually very clever.”