COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — What began as a peaceful Sunday outing quickly turned into a nightmare for an 80-year-old Coconut Creek woman who was attacked by a pit bull mix while in her wheelchair, authorities said.

Maria Torro was out with family when the 145-pound dog lunged at her, according to a Coconut Creek police report. Her granddaughter, Diana Atehortua, said she watched in horror as the dog knocked Torro to the ground and bit her multiple times.

“I was panicking. I was hysterical. I literally cried and we called 911 right away,” Atehortua said.

The police report noted that the dog had been leashed to a tree but became startled by Torro’s wheelchair and broke free. The dog’s owner eventually pulled it off Torro, calling the attack an accident.

Torro was treated at a hospital for several bite wounds. Family members said they feared the worst as they tried to get the dog to release her, ultimately wrapping a towel around its head to free her.

Coconut Creek police confirmed Broward County Animal Services is investigating the incident. The dog is quarantined at home, and the owner has been cited.

“She’s really scared. She doesn’t want to go out anymore,” Atehortua said of her grandmother, who says she feels fortunate to have survived the attack. “We thought it was going to eat her.”

‘We thought it was going to eat her’: Senior survives dog mauling in Coconut Creek

About The Author

Rosh Lowe