Man, 24, who was scared of dogs drowned after falling into lake as he fled …

By
Rebecca Seales

Last updated at 2:59 PM on 27th January 2012

Accidental death: Mohammed Faisal (pictured) drowned after running away from a dog and falling into a lake in Peterborough

A man with a fear of dogs drowned after he fled in terror from a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - straight into a lake.

Mohammed Faisal, 24, died after he jumped head-first into a bush which stood next to the lake, a former brick pit, Peterborough Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

The inquest heard that the dog's owner Ritchie Frost did his best to assist Mr Faisal, who could not swim, but that he died after the lake plunge on September 28, 2011. 

Mr Faisal, from Millfield, Peterborough,
had been walking home when he was scared by a Staffordshire Bull
Terrier called Locki, which was being walked by Mr Frost and his
children.

He died close to the nearby Ikea
Distribution Centre, where he had worked as a call centre operator for
about six weeks, at around 5.30pm.

In a police statement read out to the
inquest Mr Frost, from the Fletton area of Peterborough, said he had
taken the dog off its lead and was alerted to Mr Faisal’s presence after
hearing a 'scream' from around a bend in the path.

Mr Frost said he saw Mr Faisal dive head-first into a bush towards the lake.

The dog tried to 'trot' after Mr Faisal, but obeyed when Mr Frost called it back.

The hearing was told that Mr Frost went over to the bushes and the edge of the lake to reassure Mr Faisal that his dog was 'friendly'.

He saw his head 'bob' above the water before it disappeared beneath the surface and did not reappear.

Mr Frost said: 'I saw him in the water. I saw him go out. My daughter gave me a branch to put out into the water but he was too far out.'

He then called the police for help.

Fear of dogs: Mr Faisal was frightened by Mr Frost's Staffordshire Bull Terrier (not pictured), although a vet told the inquest the dog had no history of aggressive behaviour

The court also heard from Mr Faisal’s brother Ansar Khan, from Millfield, who confirmed that his brother had cynophobia - a fear of dogs - and was not able to swim.

The inquest heard evidence from Samantha Persaud, who was Mr Faisal’s work colleague at the call centre and had been walking behind him on a footpath near to the lake just before his death.

In her statement to police she said she briefly lost sight of Mr Faisal after he walked around a bend but he then reappeared, running past her looking 'scared' before hiding in a bush.

Ms Persuad then saw a dog as well as a nearby man and woman.

She said: 'The dog appeared to be ambling along paying no attention to anything.'

She felt that Mr Faisal was 'afraid' of the dog but she did not feel there was a threat as the animal had a ball in its mouth throughout the whole incident and was not barking or growling, and so she continued on her journey.

The coroner also heard evidence from Detective Sergeant David Liddle, who told the court that there was no record of aggressive behaviour in the dog’s past according to its vet.

Temporary police sergeant Frank Martin told the court that the lake was shallow at its very edge but then the ground suddenly dropped away.

Dr Dalibor Stratil, consultant pathologist at Peterborough City Hospital, confirmed the cause of death was drowning.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Gordon Ryall said: 'We know he had a fear of dogs and this was quite an extreme reaction on his part, but it does seem on the evidence that was why he ran away and ran towards the water.

Tragic loss: Mohammed's twin lays flowers at the site of his brother's death, a former brick pit which is now a lake

'In his urgency to get away from the dog he may not have looked back but just continued to run away and out into the water.'

Speaking after the verdict, the deceased's twin brother, also named Mohammed, said his family were pleased with the outcome.

'To be honest we are satisfied with what we heard at the inquest,' he said.

'I actually knew the bloke who owns the dog - the family runs a fish and chip shop and he was my customer for about five years.

'When I got to court and realised it was him, I knew that he would have tried his best to help my brother.

'I believe he would have done all he could.'

He added that the verdict would help his family to move on from their loss, noting:

'In our religion, we believe that when you have to go, you have to go.'

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