A rescue dog is thought to have bitten a woman’s arm off during a savage attack as she slept, reports claim.

The 25-year-old, named locally as Keira Ladlow, suffered devastating injuries after being mauled by the animal, believed to be a Staffordshire cross.

Police and paramedics rushed to an address in Kitts Green, Birmingham, at around 2pm on Friday after a relative raised the alarm.

But Ms Ladlow was found fatally wounded and pronounced dead.

The dog, which also lived at the property in Sunbeam Way, has been handed over to police and will be put to sleep.

Ms Ladlow is said to have saved the dog after finding it ‘in a garden’.

According to The Sun, Abeygail Barrett, thought to be a relative, wrote on Facebook: ‘Her previous dog was a pit bull that died of cancer so she rescued this dog after finding it in a garden where it had been on and off for four years.

‘Sometimes dogs are rescued with all good intentions but their past can make them tragically unpredictable.’

No one else was inside the property at the time of the attack, but neighbours told how they could hear Ms Ludlow screaming and shouting for help.

One woman told MailOnline: ‘When the police and ambulances came we were told to come outside because something had happened, then heard a young woman had died.

‘There were lots of cars and a rapid response team. I didn’t really know about the cause of death until I heard it was a dog attack.

‘I thought no way’ because it felt completely surreal. It’s the kind of thing that only happens in the movies.

‘I still can’t understand how a pet can turn like that. I saw the dog being taken away and, as far as I can tell, it looked fine.’

 A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘Sadly, a woman, aged 25, was found dead at the scene after suffering serious injuries believed to have been caused by a family dog which also lived at the address.

‘No one else was in the property at the time, and the woman’s family has signed the dog, believed to be a Staffordshire cross, over to police. It will be humanely put to sleep.

‘The death is being treated as a tragic incident, but with no suspicious circumstances.

‘A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.’

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