A 34-year-old mother of five from Southend, Essex, tragically died after being bitten by one of her pet dogs during a brief altercation between the animals over food, an inquest has revealed.
Michelle Hempstead was feeding her two dogs—Pom, a Pomeranian, and Trigg, a mastiff-Rottweiler cross—McDonald’s chicken nuggets at her home on Retort Close when the incident occurred on July 29, 2024. As the dogs jostled for the food, Trigg accidentally bit Hempstead’s upper left arm, severing a major artery. The severe blood loss led to multiple organ failure, and she passed away the following day in hospital.
At the inquest, Hempstead’s partner, Samuel West, described the attack as a “freak accident,” emphasizing that Trigg had no history of aggression and was generally gentle. Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes concurred, stating that the bite was not malicious and occurred during a brief fight between the dogs over food. He recorded a verdict of accidental death, noting the “double tragedy” as the family had recently lost Hempstead’s daughter.
Following the incident, both dogs were seized by authorities and later euthanized after being disclaimed by Hempstead, in accordance with Metropolitan Police protocol.
The community has expressed deep sympathy for the family, who are grappling with the loss of both a mother and a daughter in a short span of time.
English