“A neighbor called me and asked me to check on a commotion going on across the street from me,” Mr Goude said.

“I went out and was shocked to see a teenage girl attacked by a dog.

“Her forearm was in her mouth; screamed and screamed trying to get him down; it was terrifying.”

Mr Goude says he “thought (the victim) was going to die” if no one intervened.

“I’ve had Staffies in the past and this dog was bigger and had a wider mouth,” he said.

“I’ve lost track of time, but it was probably about 10-15 minutes that they had to pin him down on the gravel before the police arrived.

“I don’t want to be a hero; I was just doing what I had to do.”

He said once she was freed, the victim got into a nearby car.