The 19-year-old woman who died after she was attacked by a dog at a flat in Bristol on Wednesday has been named as Morgan Dorsett from Shropshire. Two people – a man and a woman both aged in their 20s – have been arrested over the attack and have been released on conditional bail. Initial reports suggested the dog may be an XL bully, but confirming the breed will form part of the police assessment process, according to Avon and Somerset Police. It was sedated and seized by officers.
Ms Dorsett’s family thanked the public for their support and those who have left flowers near the scene. Officers were called to an incident in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol at 7.19pm on Wednesday. Paramedics and police officers attended but Ms Dorsett died at the scene.
On Thursday, Inspector Terry Murphy said: «Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the family of the young woman who’s tragically died as a result of yesterday evening’s incident. They have been updated and will be supported by a family liaison officer. «I’d also like to thank the officers and paramedics who attended yesterday evening and tried to save her life. Support is in place for them. A full investigation is now well underway to establish the full circumstances of the events that led to her death.»
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A neighbour also paid tribute to Ms Dorsett, saying she «seemed a lovely girl» and had only lived in the property for a few weeks. «I was up all night awake trying to process this,» the neighbour, who did not want to be named, said. «I am shocked. I just can’t believe it’s happened and she hasn’t been there that long.»
The neighbour said she had seen the dog on a lead with its owner and was certain it was an XL bully. «I do feel so sad for the dog owner,» she said. «She did mention the dog wasn’t great with men, fine with women and children. I feel for her so, so much. It wasn’t her fault.» She added: «I genuinely feel that this was one of those freak accidents and wasn’t her fault – that’s how I feel.»
In February 2024 it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. Anyone owning one of the dogs must have had the animal neutered, have it microchipped, and keep it muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions. The government move to ban the breed followed a series of attacks on people and other dogs.
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