Brave bodybuilder who rushed to save woman from vicious dog as it ripped her leg and arm off dies
A BRAVE bodybuilder who rushed to save a woman from a vicious dog attack has died.
Matthew Beddow hit the headlines when he fought off a savage 13stone bullmastiff as it attacked a babysitter who had her leg and arm bit off in 2006.
He was branded a hero after rushing Kayleigh to hospital in his car – with the 20-year-old claiming he saved her life.
An inquest earlier this month heard how Mr Beddow, 49, passed away suddenly at home on August 9.
The coroner’s office said Mr Beddow was single and unemployed due to sickness at the time of his death – but was well known locally as a bodybuilder.
The inquest heard there were no suspicious circumstances around his death and a full inquest will take place at a later date.
Back in 2006 doctors said Kayleigh would have bled to death if Matthew had not rushed her to hospital as soon as he did.
She needed 14 pints of blood and her left arm, which was attached by just the main artery and bone, had to be rebuilt in three separate operations
In an interview with Plymouth Herald at the time, Kayleigh said: “I owe Matt my life. It it wasn’t for him I could be dead.
“He kept me calm throughout and told me everything would be alright. He stopped that dog from moving his teeth to my face or throat.”
It comes after a spate of dog attacks in recent weeks.
A man died after being attacked last week by two dogs – suspected to be bully XLs – in Staffordshire.
Brave schoolgirl Ana Paun told how she also thought she was going to die after being savaged by an XL Bully in Birmingham.
Katie Deere was walking her dog with her daughter in a pram back in August, in Askern, Yorkshire, when the beast attacked.
Jack Lis, was just 10 years old when he died in November 2021 having been mauled by an 8st dog called Beast.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since announced he will be banning the XL Bully breed across the UK.