60-year-old marathon runner attacked by stray dog in Dumas

Surat: A veteran marathon runner from the city was injured in a stray dog attack during an early morning training run on April 29, dealing a blow to his preparations for his ninth Comrades Marathon in South Africa scheduled in June this year.Rajiv Sheth, a 60-year-old exporter and seasoned long-distance runner, who has completed 171 marathons across eight countries, had set out around 5am from Vesu towards Dumas on April 29 when three stray dogs suddenly chased him. One of the dogs bit his hand, inflicting a deep wound on his wrist and tearing flesh from his forearm.Bleeding heavily, he was spotted by passers-by in the Dumas area, who rushed to help and ensured he received prompt medical attention. He was later administered an anti-rabies vaccine."I survived because I didn't fall. Had I collapsed, all three dogs could have attacked me," Sheth said, recounting the incident.Sheth, who describes himself as a dog lover and former pet owner, said the issue is no longer about isolated attacks but points to a wider concern over the unchecked rise in stray dog population and increasingly aggressive behaviour."We have invested significantly in developing the Dumas seafront, yet basic safety remains compromised," he said.He added that local residents later informed him that the dog which attacked him was suspected to be rabid and was subsequently killed. The incident has once again brought the spotlight on the growing stray dog menace. In 2023, Wagh Bakri Tea Group executive director Parag Desai died after falling while trying to escape stray dogs during a morning walk in Ahmedabad.