Ex-Premier League star Jermaine Pennant was left needing 50 stitches on a leg wound after he was viciously mauled by a canine.
The previous Liverpool midfielder, 43, had been strolling his personal canine – an American Akita named King – when he was pounced on by a German Shepherd.
Pennant mentioned it got here after he ‘stepped in to guard’ King when the opposite canine ‘had a go at him’, just for the footballer to ultimately be attacked himself.
He instructed The Sun: ‘It was actually scary. The opposite canine had a go at King, so I stepped in to guard him.
‘The subsequent factor I do know, it was attacking me. I used to be on the ground and it was on my leg for a minimum of 5 seconds.
‘I felt this enormous strain. Think about the drive of a canine chew. King jumped in to guard me.’
Gory pictures confirmed the extent of Pennant’s accidents, together with his proper shin left bloodied and scarred within the aftermath of the incident.
The previous Stoke Metropolis star was handled for 4 chew wounds on his leg and instructed he may have surgical procedure for one bigger one.
Jermaine Pennant, 43, shared an image from a hospital mattress after having greater than 50 stitches
The ex-Liverpool midfielder was attacked by a German Shepherd whereas strolling his American Akita, named King
Footage shared by the TalkSport host confirmed giant wounds on his left shin
Pennant later thanked his canine for ‘saving his life’ in a heartfelt Instagram publish
However Pennant in the end had greater than 50 stitches inserted on the hospital, earlier than crediting King for standing as much as the German Shepherd and ‘saving his life’.
In an emotional Instagram caption accompanying an image of him embracing his canine, Pennant wrote: ‘So I used to be attacked by a German Shepherd, I attempted to guard king however the canine obtained my leg, I used to be on the ground with the canine nonetheless connected with no signal of letting go, till king intervened as he didn’t know what was occurring.
‘However the minute he did he fought the canine off and saved what might’ve been an horrendous scenario for me.
‘King was unharmed with just a little nip on his leg, however had blood lined throughout him which wasn’t mine, at this level I forgot the agony I used to be in, and my coronary heart sank, however it wasn’t kings.
‘My hero nonetheless defending me and attempting to take care of me, KING you’re a legend love you, man’s finest pal, thanks for taking good care of us each.’
Pennant mentioned he has no intention of reporting the matter to the police.
There have been some 29,400 circumstances of out-of-control canine assaults final yr, marking an increase of 83 per cent on the 16,040 recorded in 2020.
Pennant retired from soccer on the age of 35 in 2018 following a 17-year profession.
The 43-year-old made 231 Premier League appearances throughout stints with Stoke, Liverpool, Birmingham Metropolis, Leeds United, Portsmouth and Arsenal.
