A teenage girl is in hospital with critical injuries following a dog attack in Singleton this morning.
Emergency services were called to a home on Broughton Street about 11.30am (Thursday 4 September 2025) and found a 17-year-old girl with severe injuries to her head, neck and body.
She was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.
Police were told the girl was visiting a friend’s home when she was attacked by a 10-year-old large mixed-breed dog belonging to the household.
Passers-by managed to intervene, pulling the dog away before calling for assistance.
Officers from the Hunter Valley Police District later destroyed the dog with the owner’s consent, assisted by Singleton Council rangers.
Police inquiries into the incident are continuing.
UPDATE Friday 05/09:
Police held a press conference earlier this afternoon outside Cessnock Police Station to provide an update on the incident.
Firstly, the teenage girl is still in intensive care at John Hunter Hospital, with no other update able to be provided at this time.
Police and paramedics want to thank the bystanders for their bravery and quick response to the attack.
“Without the quick actions of the bystanders, this incident could have been much, much worse”, said Hunter Valley Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Justin Cornes.
“Running into a scene where they didn’t know the full circumstances and to jump in there and remove the dog, it’s an incredible act.”
Superintendent Comes also wanted to stress that the dog, which was revealed to be a mix of a boxer, a bull arab, and an Irish Wolfhound, was inside a fenced yard, and not loose on the street.
He also stated that the owners of the dog are aiding police with their enquiries and believe the attack to be out of character for the dog.
Intensive Care Paramedic & Station Officer with New South Wales Ambulance Joshua Parfrey said that there was no reports of any other injuries.
Mr. Parfrey also wanted to thank the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for their assistance and expertise.
