Postman Phil Clilverd had part of his finger ripped off by a dog

by Joe Walker

A postman has told how his finger was ripped off by a Staffordshire bull terrier in Herne Bay.

Peter Clilverd, 63, was on his rounds when the dog jumped up and pulled off part of his ring finger through a letterbox in Pier Avenue.

The grandad-of-three lost almost an inch of the digit and surgeons were unable to sew it back on – despite a quick-thinking neighbour putting it in a bag of frozen peas.

Peter – a postman for 38 years – said: “I was just delivering the mail as usual. I didn’t hear the dog but knew there was one there. I was just getting on with my job.

“I put the letters through and the dog jumped up and latched on to me. I pulled my hand away and realised it had ripped part of my finger off. I was in so much shock I didn't feel any pain at first. It had cut through a small artery so blood was spraying out.”

The owners of the dog - a puppy called Koojo pictured left with owner Phil Akers - attempted to retrieve the mangled finger while a neighbour tried to stem the bleeding.

Paramedics and the police were called to the scene and Peter was taken to the QEQM Hospital in Margate.

Doctors referred him to plastic surgery specialists in East Grinstead, but Peter was told re-attaching the finger was not an option.

He had an operation to close the open wound and was sent home to Sweechbridge Road, in Herne Bay.

He said: "Because it had been ripped off and wasn’t a clean cut, like with a knife, they couldn’t do anything to save it.

"I’ve been bitten about eight times in 38 years, but nothing as serious as this. I was just getting on with my job and not thinking about it.

"I’m set to go back to work next week but I’m a bit dubious about putting my hands anywhere near a letterbox.

"Dogs biting postmen is something that is always joked about, but it’s really not funny. It can sometimes be very serious.

"At least it’s got me out of the washing up, for now."

Kent Police spokesman Lesley Miller said: "We did attend and spoke with the injured man, but there was no further action we could take as no laws had been broken as the dog was within its own property.

"The injured man was advised of his rights to bring a civil case against the dog owner."

Dog owner Phil Akers said he bought one-year-old Koojo to protect the house after it was burgled.

The 32-year-old says postmen were aware of the long-legged Irish Staffordshire bull terrier and knew to be careful.

He said: “What did he expect? He knew the dog was there and had joked before that it was us biting the mail and not Koojo.

“I just remember being in bed and hearing my missus Debbie screaming that the postman was saying his finger had been bitten off.

“I had a look for it and couldn’t find it, so just assumed Koojo had eaten it, but then Debbie screamed again because she saw it on the floor.

“I picked up and handed it out of the window and asked if they wanted some ice, but a neighbour had sorted it.

“People will say Koojo is dangerous but she was just going for the post. She’s been tested by the RSPCA before and has no pit bull in her at all.

“We bought her for protection after we were burgled and she’s very well-behaved. It’s like having a baby.”