Dog walker, 28, mauled to death in park after 'losing control' of pack of eight animals

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A coroner has questioned the absence of regulations for dog walking, following an inquest into the tragic death of a young woman who was brutally attacked by the dogs she was exercising.

Natasha Johnston, 28, was fatally mauled by an unspecified number of the eight dogs she was walking on January 12 last year, according to the inquest. Forensic pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan Earl informed the coroner that Ms Johnston's death resulted from a dog attack, with her injuries including multiple dog bites and claw marks.

Ms Johnston was discovered beneath a slope from a viewpoint in Caterham, Surrey, after the vicious assault. Her cause of death was listed as shock and haemorrhage, including a perforation of the left jugular vein and numerous penetrating dog bites to the neck, arms and torso.

Surrey coroner Richard Travers heard from Ms Johnston's brother that she was "very comfortable with dogs" and had walked these dogs previously without any problems.

Sam Ogden, another dog walker in the area, was bitten by one of Ms Johnston's dogs shortly before the young woman's demise, reports the Mirror.

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Michelle Clarke, out riding her horse with a friend, was approached by two of the pack of eight dogs, causing her friend's horse to panic and throw her off.

The inquest, held in Woking, Surrey, heard that Ben Kershaw, who was walking with his mother when they found the fatally injured Ms Johnston, noticed two or three dogs around her body, two of which had blood on their snouts.

Speaking at the documentary inquest yesterday, Mr Travers praised Mr Kershaw's courage while recounting the assistance provided to Ms Johnston, commenting: "He persisted in going forward and did all he possibly could. He acted very bravely."

David Martin, who serves as a paramedic for South East Coast Ambulance Service, described finding Ms Johnston unresponsive with no signs of breathing and significant blood loss.

Police constable Christopher Hale from Surrey Police gave evidence that there's an absence of blanket rules for dog walking practices across the country; his statement, read out by Coroner's Officer Jodie Gatenby, stated: "At the time of completing there is no national regulation or restriction on the number of dogs someone can walk in public."

Mr Travers aired his concerns regarding this lack of oversight and expressed his intention to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths Report related to the regulationor the lack thereofaround the number and size of dogs one may walk publicly. He aims to send this report to the Secretary of State for the Home Office.

The inquiry also noted that Surrey County Council has guidance suggesting a maximum of six dogs for countryside outings.

Mr Travers further remarked on the situation saying: "It would appear there is no restriction in the number and size of dogs that someone can walk in a public place. This is not a problem limited to Surrey - it appears to be a national issue."

Mr Travers concluded that Ms Johnston succumbed to a large number of bite wounds after an attack by an undetermined number of the dogs she had been walking. He explained that while Ms Johnston, from Croydon, south London, initially had control of the dogs, it was eventually lost, leading to "eventually with a tragic result."

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