Broome tourist fears for children at popular Cable Beach after they were released from hospital following attack by pack of dogs

A 77-year-old New South Wales man has been released from hospital after being attacked by up to four dogs at a popular beach in northern Western Australia.

Bruce Newbold said he had just parked his car on the shore, about 2 kilometres north of the rocks of Cable Beach in Broome, when he was approached by what he initially thought were friendly dogs on July 17.

“(I thought) they were probably just coming down for a cuddle or something, or to be petted, and I waited until they got there,” he said.

Mr Newbold said he was quickly surrounded by the animals and knocked to the ground, suffering bites to his legs.

“They started standing on their hind legs and pushing me,” he said.

Mr Newbold said he tried to escape the dogs by running into the sea but was unable to get up from the sand.

“I tried to get into the water so they wouldn’t follow me, but I couldn’t. I was lying on the bottom,” he said.

The tourist, who has been in Broome for almost two months, believed a woman he had previously seen with the same dogs had driven away.

“I think I heard a noise up there where the girl’s car was,” said Mr. Newbold.

Mr Newbold alerted a nearby fisherman, who noted the woman’s license plate number and examined his wounds.

“The guy stopped. He said, ‘Go to the hospital immediately.’ He was very good.”

After attempting to drive himself to the hospital, Mr Newbold called his friend John Deane, who took him to Broome’s emergency room.

“(It was) a pretty terrible mess,” Mr Deane said.

Mr Newbold said it was too early to say whether his visit to Broome would have to be cut short due to the nature of his injuries and whether he would be unable to return to NSW.

Rangers investigate attack

The County of Broome has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.

A spokesman said rangers had spoken to the dog owner, who had no knowledge that her animals had been involved in an attack.

Mr Newbold could not identify the breed of dogs involved, but said he was concerned for other beachgoers.

“People should not keep dogs like that, especially on the beach,” he said.

Dog bite sting

A recent report by researchers at Broome Regional Hospital found that the Kimberley town had seven times the number of hospital admissions for dog bites than the national average.

Between 2021 and 2023, more than 200 patients were treated for dog bites in Broome.

The County of Broome said it was taking steps to address the pet ownership issues.