By Peter Douglas
COCKATOO teenager Oscar Arrowsmith is among a distinguished group of Australians to be included in this year’s Australian Bravery Awards.
Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, on Wednesday, 17 August, announced the recipients of the awards, which commend conduct of bravery that is considered worthy of recognition.
Oscar, now 14, was only 10 years old when the family dog attacked his mother, Dana Lyall, in their Cockatoo home.
The German shepherd had attacked her leg and Dana believes the outcome could’ve been much worse if Oscar didn’t step in and rescue her.
“What Oscar did was truly amazing,” she said.
“If he didn’t help out, I’ve got no doubt the dog would’ve killed me.
“I’m so proud of him.
“For someone of that age to do something like that, it would’ve freaked out many … but he stayed calm.”
Ms Lyall said she had been sitting in her office with the family’s other dog, a Staffordshire terrier, at her side.
At the time, there was only Dana and Oscar in the house.
Oscar had opened the door, before the German shepherd barged in and started its attack.
Dana tried to protect herself and laid on her stomach, but the dog grabbed hold of her leg in an attack that left her with horrific injuries.
“I spent four days in hospital afterwards,” she said.
“The (flesh from the) whole back of my leg, from my knee to my calf, had been ripped from the bone.
“When they arrived, the paramedics were horrified at what they saw.
“I’ve recovered now, but there’s no doubt the dog would’ve killed me if Oscar didn’t step in.”
Oscar instantly began to distract the dog and, after numerous attempts, he was able to drive it away and secure it in the laundry.
He then assisted his mother to the lounge room, where he applied some first aid and called triple-zero.
Before the attack, Dana said there had been no signs of aggressiveness in either dog.
She said the family had always owned dogs and they were treated as an extension of their family.
However, she had noticed the dogs were becoming frustrated with each other in the lead-up to the attack, during which she said the German shepherd “just snapped”.
Previously, Oscar has been acknowledged for his actions, with the Cockatoo Township Group presenting him with an award in 2014.
Though, neither Oscar nor Dana had any idea of a national award, which Governor-General Cosgrove approved personally.
More than 80 Australians were included on the list, which acknowledges Australians who put themselves in harm’s way to assist others in need.
