Three mixed-breed dogs have killed a woman in the Australian city of Maryborough, three hours north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane.
The Brisbane Times has reported that three dogs mauled the woman to death in the yard of a Milton Road property on Tuesday morning.
Paramedics found the critically injured woman lying in the yard with wounds to her head, chest, and arm.
Officers fought to save her but she was pronounced dead at the scene at around 9 a.m.
Police are yet to formally identify the victim but say she was aged in her 30s or 40s.
Earlier, it had been reported the woman was minding the dogs when they turned on her. But comments by Acting Inspector Wade Lee, from the Wide Bay district, disputed this, suggesting that she was visiting the property for some reason.
“It’s not understood why she was in the rear of the yard with the dogs but she suffered significant injuries to her head, chest and left arm,” he said.
“There isn’t any criminal nature to what’s happened, it is merely a tragic set of circumstances that has ended up in this lady being killed by the dogs.”
It is understood that someone who was at the premises, possibly a neighbour, raised the alarm.
“There was at least one person at the premises who has contacted police, she’s witnessed the event and we’re still trying to understand if there was anyone else present during the attacks,” Lee said.
“We’re having trouble identifying her [the victim], we don’t know her identity, as such as we don’t know the next of kin.”
Police say the dogs had already been corralled into a shed by the time officers arrived on the scene.
The animals have been seized by the local council. It is likely they will be put down.
“The dogs at this point haven’t been established as dogs of a dangerous nature, but in saying that, the investigation is still in its infancy,” Lee said.
“At this stage it is just a very tragic accident.”
A Fraser Coast Regional Council spokesman confirmed the dogs had been detained by the council.
“Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of the woman who has died in tragic circumstances today,” he said.
“The dogs have been detained by the council and, as this is an active police investigation, we will not be making any further comments at this point in time.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
