Dance Instructor Recalls Horrific Dog Attack in Caernarfon, Urges Action
A 59-year-old dance and fitness instructor has recounted the terrifying moment he was mauled by two dogs in Caernarfon, deliberately allowing the animals to attack his legs rather than his throat as he shut his eyes in complete disbelief. Leon Williams, from Margate, Kent, was visiting the Gwynedd town to deliver dance workshops when the assault occurred, leaving him with deep puncture wounds and lasting psychological scars.
The Chaotic Assault on Twthill
The attack unfolded during a pre-breakfast stroll on Sunday, March 29, when Leon decided to walk up Twthill, a vantage point above Caernarfon offering sweeping views of Anglesey, the Menai Strait, and the Eryri mountains. He had spotted a man struggling to control two dogs on leads but didn't think much of it initially. "I wasn't anxious or fearful but I decided to take a shortcut back down so he wasn't following me," he explained. "But when I turned to look back, the next thing I knew, they were on me."
Despite standing at 6ft tall, Leon was knocked over by the shin-high dogs. The larger dog latched onto his left leg behind his knee, while the smaller dog targeted his right leg. "I can remember with great clarity protecting my neck so that the dogs didn't go for my neck," he recounted. "I couldn't get up because I was on a grassy slope and the dogs had hold of both my legs. I was also pinned down by the owner leaning on me trying to get the dogs off."
The pain was instant in both legs, especially the left. There was blood everywhere. The assault lasted three or four minutes before Leon managed to escape, with one dog chasing after him as he ran blindly. "I just ran and ran and ran," he said, noting that adrenaline masked his injuries initially.
Immediate Aftermath and Hospital Treatment
After stumbling back to the Royal Celtic Hotel where he was staying, hotel staff immediately called for an ambulance upon seeing his wounds. Leon spent the morning at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, receiving treatment and tetanus jabs. Originally scheduled to return home that evening, he was so bruised that he chose to stay overnight in Liverpool instead.
"Had this attack happened to a child or an elderly person, they wouldn't be here today," Leon emphasized. "I've still got my ripped and bloodied trousers – every time I look at them I shake my head in disbelief this could have happened. I think about the attack every single day. It was horrific and will stay with me for a long time."
Raising Awareness and Legal Action
A week after the incident, Leon shared photos of his injuries on Facebook's Caru Caernarfon page. "I wasn't looking for sympathy, I just wanted to raise awareness," he explained. "I didn't want anyone else to go through what I'd gone through. Caernarfon is a beautiful place and I shall no doubt visit again. But what happened has left a mental scar."
The attack has forced him to cancel all his dance classes, resulting in lost income. "It was actually quite cathartic publishing the post – like a bit of self-therapy – as hopefully it will help others," he added.
North Wales Police confirmed they received a report on March 29 about a man being attacked by two dogs while walking in the Twthill area. A 68-year-old man voluntarily attended Caernarfon Police station for interview in connection with the incident. When asked by police if he wanted to press charges, Leon responded: "100% yes, this can't be allowed to happen again." The investigation remains ongoing.
The deepest puncture wounds were on Leon's left leg behind his knee, with both physical and mental scars continuing to heal. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by uncontrolled dogs in public spaces.
