Southend woman who died after dog attack named locally

The victim, who was named locally as Michelle Hempstead, 34, is believed to have climbed over her balcony rail to escape as blood poured from a deep wound to her arm.

She ran for around 60 yards before collapsing unconscious against a wall next to a children’s play area near her home in Retort Close, Southend.

Neighbours who rushed out to help dialled 999 and desperately tried to give her first aid to stem the flow of blood after the attack at around 11.30pm on Monday.

Ms Hempstead was also treated at the scene by paramedics for what police say were serious and “life threatening injuries”.

The ground floor flat home of Michelle Hempstead, 34, in Retort Close, Southend (Image: East Anglia News Service)

Essex Police said was taken to the Royal London Hospital, but died on Tuesday “despite the best efforts of doctors”.

Neighbours said Ms Hempstead who had a tattooed face shared her ground floor flat with a Rottweiler-cross type dog or a Bullmastiff and a Pomeranian.

An Essex Police statement said: “We are not seeking anyone else in connection with this incident at this time and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

“Two dogs have been seized from the address.

“The dogs seized have been seen by our Dog Liaison Officer, who has not identified them as banned breeds.”

Detective Superintendent Gary Biddle of Essex Police added: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the woman involved at this time.

“While our investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident continues, we would ask that the privacy of the woman’s family is respected.”

One neighbour who asked not to be named said: “I was at home with my partner when we heard screaming.

“He went to help and I called an ambulance. By the time he had got down to her, she had run across to near the play area and had collapsed.

“She was unconscious and had a really nasty wound to the top of her arm. It was evidently a dog bite.

“I think she had climbed out of her flat out over her balcony. I came out to help. She had run screaming and made it against a wall.

“We had to move her to see where the blood was coming from. It is just awful that she has died. I can only think it was because of the blood loss.

“We did our best to try and stop the bleeding. There were people coming out to help, and trying to talk to her, calling her ‘Shelly’ or ‘Michelle’.

“She was wearing her nightclothes and we tried to cover her up.”

The block of flats in Retort Close (Image: East Anglia News Service)

The neighbour said Ms Hempstead had a partner and was devoted to her dogs.

She added: “She was quite friendly. We had had a puppy last year and she would stop us to see how he was getting on.

“I was not aware of any problems with her dogs. There was a boy aged around 14 or 15 who would come to her flat to walk the big dog.

“We saw both dogs being taken out early in the morning and they were both walking happily on a lead.”

Marie Russell, who lives in the block of flats where the incident took place, described Ms Hempstead as a "lovely, lovely lady"

She told the BBC: “She shouted 'My dog's bit me', then ran off trying to get away in case the dog got out.

"She collapsed and another resident found her. We were all there, 15 of us trying to get out to get to her and help her.

"When we heard the news we were all very shocked. We knew how bad it was, but now everyone's giving each other comfort.

"I feel grateful to the neighbours that we all did try and work together for her and did the best we could, not knowing what to do."

Other neighbours said they believed Ms Hempstead was jobless, and had lived in her home for several years.