Hero air ambulance pilot used farmer’s shotgun to kill rampaging XL Bully – Bundlezy

Hero air ambulance pilot used farmer’s shotgun to kill rampaging XL Bully

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A hero helicopter pilot shot a rampaging XL bully which savaged a series of people in the countryside. Brave Air Ambulance pilot Jon(corr) Earp (pictured) jumped into action after landing his helicopter on a farm where he was called to the multiple attacks on three victims by the raging dog. Chopper pilot Capt Earp was given a shotgun by a neighbouring farmer - and coolly shot the dog called Ricoh four times before anyone else was injured. A judge commended pilot Capt Earp, 52, for his courage after shooting the 18-month old XL Bully during a "relentless" attack on multiple people. Judge Nicola Jones said the dog was "relentless" in the "sustained" attack - and someone could have died because the police armed response unit was too far away. Judge Jones said Capt Earp would be receiving a Crown Court commendation for his actions on the day. He joined the Wales Air Ambulance Service 12 years ago after surviving lung cancer - and promised he wanted to "make a difference." The judge said: "On that day the police armed response team were so far away that they couldn't come to euthanise that dog. "It took four shots to destroy the dog at the scene. she said. "The first shot had no impact whatsoever - which goes to the ferocity, strength and danger of that animal. Caernarfon Crown Court heard the drama at the farm in Rhoshirwaun, Gwynedd in November 2023 was "triggered" when the farm lanlord blew his horn as he arrived to collect the rent. Dog owner Lisa Grant, 56, admitted being the owner of the XL Bully dangerously out of control. Grant and her partner were tenants on the farm belonging to Gwilym Wyn Roberts who called to collect rent. On his approach, he sounded the horn of his vehicle - which "triggered" the dog. Mr Roberts saw the dog attacking the Grant and her partner. The dog then attacked Mr Roberts - who suffered bite mark injuries to his arm which required hospital treatment. William Griffin, prosecuting, said that shortly before 11.30am on November 17, North Wales Police received reports that multiple individuals had been bitten by a dog at the farm. Mr Roberts' son called for the assistance of an air ambulance. After the air ambulance landed, Capt Earp killed the dog using a shotgun which he had been given by a neighbouring farmer. He then airlifted Grant and her partner to hospital with "serious injuries". In police interview, Grant said that 'Ricoh' had been living at the farm with others dogs with "no issue", but had been "triggered" by the horn of the car. In a victim personal statement, Mr Roberts said the physical scars from the "horrible" attack remain, and said "everyone is lucky to be alive". Amy Edwards, defending, said Grant was remorseful for Mr Roberts having been injured, and is "incredibly grateful" to him and his son for their actions on the day. Miss Edwards said that Grant intervened to try and regain control of the dog during the attack, and suffered serious injuries as a result. She added that there was "no prior knowledge or concerns" regarding the dog's behaviour. Judge Nicola Jones said the dog was "relentless" in the "sustained" attack. She said Mr Earp would be receiving a Crown Court commendation for his actions on the day. The judge said: "Mr Earp recognised that the dog still posed a risk to other people at the scene, including the emergency services, and that if swift action was not taken then the defendant's partner could have lost his life. "It took four shots to destroy the dog at the scene" she said. "The first shot had no impact whatsoever - which goes to the ferocity, strength and danger of that animal. Without his actions, your partner's life would not have been saved. "What he did was incredibly brave and he no doubt saved all parties at the scene from more serious injury, and saved your partner's life." She sentenced Grant, now of Criccieth, to eight months imprisonment - which was suspended for a year. She is also banned from keeping dogs for an indefinite period. WALES NEWS SERVICE
Chopper pilot Capt Earp was given a shotgun by a neighbouring farmer – and coolly shot the dog called Ricoh four times before anyone else was injured (Picture: Wales News Service)

An air ambulance pilot has been praised for his bravery after he borrowed a farmer’s shotgun and killed an XL Bully that was attacking people.

Lisa Grant, 56, admitted being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury over the terrifying incident at her isolated home in Gwynedd, North Wales, in November 2023.

Her dog Ricoh, which had never been aggressive before, snapped when her landlord Gwilym Wyn Roberts arrived and sounded his car horn, and it attacked Mrs Grant, her husband and Mr Roberts.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard Mrs Roberts screamed as the animal went for her husband, and she suffered an ‘awful’ wound to her hand while trying to drag the dog off.

She is currently awaiting a fourth reconstructive operation on her arm and has not ‘mentally’ been able to go back to her home since.

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Her husband said his scars have not healed. Mr Roberts luckily escaped with relatively minor injuries.

Judge Nicola Jones noted it was ‘extremely terrifying’ for Mr Roberts, who had life-threatening and life-changing injuries, while his wife has PTSD and needs grafts on her arm.

The court heard a Wales Air Ambulance was despatched to the scene.

The pilot, Captain Jon Earp, in consultation with a police inspector, borrowed a shotgun and shot the animal four times, after the first apparently had no effect.

Caernarfon-based Wales Air Ambulance pilot Jon Earp, right
The judge said Wales Air Ambulance pilot Jon Earp (right) will be commended for his bravery (Picture: Media Wales)

Judge Jones said Captain Earp would be formally commended for his actions.

‘He and the crew and all the emergency services were all put at risk because this dog was dangerously out of control,’ she added.

‘As a result of his actions, which were taking a shotgun from a neighbouring farmer and shooting the dog, it took four shots to destroy the dog at the scene – the first shot had no impact whatsoever.’

He acted due to the ‘ferocity, strength and danger of the animal…(and) saved the life of the partner (Mr Grant) and ensured he got the treatment he needed’, the judge said.

She said the dog, which was called Ricoh, had been ‘relentless’ and Cpt Earp had taken the ‘difficult’ decision to euthanise him as armed police were too far away at the time.

Mrs Grant was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 15 days of rehabilitation activity.

She was also banned from keeping animals indefinitely.

Her other dogs have been rehomed by the RSPCA, the court heard.

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