Police have launched an appeal after a 79-year-old man was seriously injured in an incident involving a dog in central Plymouth.
What happened
Officers say the incident occurred at about 9.15am on Saturday 1 August near The Sundial on Armada Way. A large black dog, described as not on a lead, reportedly jumped at the man, causing him to fall and sustain a serious head injury. The man remains in hospital with injuries described by police as potentially life‑threatening.
Police appeal
Devon and Cornwall Police are urging the dog owner to come forward and are also asking anyone who helped at the scene, or who witnessed the incident, to contact them. Witnesses are asked to get in touch via the force website or by calling 101, quoting reference 50260203507.
- Date and time: Around 9.15am, Saturday 1 August
- Location: Near The Sundial, Armada Way, Plymouth
- Victim: 79-year-old man, currently in hospital
- Police reference: 50260203507
Local context and public safety
Incidents involving dogs in public spaces raise immediate concerns for pedestrians, particularly older residents. Armada Way is a busy central route with shops, offices and market areas nearby; any attack in that environment is likely to have been observed by passers-by and traders. Police appeals in such cases are commonly used to identify the animal and its owner, establish the sequence of events and assess any wider risk to the public.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Time | c. 9.15am, 1 August |
| Place | The Sundial, Armada Way, Plymouth |
| Injuries | Serious head injury; potentially life-threatening |
| Police contact | 101 or force website; ref 50260203507 |
How to help
Anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, mobile phone video or who was in the Armada Way area shortly before or after 9.15am on Saturday is asked to check their recordings and to contact police if they have relevant material. Similarly, shopkeepers, delivery drivers and bus users who may have seen the dog or its handler are likely to hold information that could assist the investigation.
The police appeal is both to identify the animal and to ensure the safety of the wider community while officers establish the full circumstances surrounding how the man was injured.
Devon and Cornwall Police provide regular public updates where appropriate; the force can be contacted online and by telephone on 101 for non-emergencies. In emergencies always call 999.
