Man, 34, was mauled to death by 'XL Bully' dog after he 'collapsed' in park as 20-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of owning the dangerous animal
- Ian 'Wiggy' Symes, 34, has died after being mauled by a dog at a park
- He was pronounced dead at the scene in Fareham on Wednesday morning
- A 20-year-old man from the town has been arrested, Hampshire Police said
A 34-year-old dog walker was mauled to death by a suspected XL Bully while he was walking at a children's park - as flowers were left at the scene of the horrific attack and heartbroken friends and family paid tribute to the beloved local.
Ian 'Wiggy' Symes was today named locally as the victim of the 'brutal' incident in Fareham, Hampshire on Wednesday morning.
Shocked residents have claimed that he may have been mauled to death, possibly after collapsing, while he was out dog walking.
Hampshire Police said that a 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control. He has been released from custody without charge but remains under investigation while enquiries continue, the force added.
MailOnline understands that initial enquiries suggest the dog is an XL Bully, which is not an illegal breed.
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Photographs of Mr Symes, who is from Fareham, show him smiling as he poses next to pet Rottweilers on social media.
His brother Martin today visited the park, where flowers and messages have been laid in tribute.
Speaking about 'Wiggy', he said: 'The past 30 hours have been pretty shocking and very hard to really understand what happened and why.
'Thanks for all the messages and tributes for my brother. It's very touching to see the flowers and messages left at the field.
'Crazy to think of all the memories I had playing football on that field and the laughs I had in the school just got wiped from the situation that happened.'
He added: 'The facts are he was out walking a dog something he loved to do and as sad as it is least he passed away doin something he loved.
'I'm not overly religious but I do believe you go to a better place, and no doubt he'll be up there already walking his dogs.
'Back with your babies AJ and Roxy and in the loving arms of Mum and Nan xxx'.
A mother who lives near the recreation ground said those who were first on the scene found Mr Symes had suffered horrific facial injuries.
The woman, who was in the park to do some photography with her young daughter at the time, said: 'We were in the park before the police arrived.
'He was a very helpful man. He used to come around and offer to do jobs like gardening. He used to walk people's dogs for them as well. It sounds like a tragic accident.'
Another resident said: 'People have said it was an XL Bully dog that attacked him, but we don't know for sure. I spoke to the police to check they had the dog, as I've got kids and they said they did.'
Another resident who lives near the park said she had been friends with 'Wiggy' since they were schoolchildren.
The woman, who didn't want to give her name, said Mr Symes' father had come to her house to tell them the news about his son's tragic death.
She said: '[Symes'] dad came round and told us it was his son who had died. I heard he was out walking a dog, but it wasn't his dog that attacked him.
'We met on holiday on the Isle of Wight when I was around eight. It is just such a shock... He was so well liked and he was really nice to me.'
Julie, who works as a carer at a home in the area, said there were plenty of large 'fighting dogs' in the area.
'There are a lot of people who keep big dogs around here, generally what I'd call fighting-type dogs,' she said. 'We see them parading down the shops in Highlands Road, nearby.'
A Hampshire Police spokesperson said: 'We are speaking to people in the area and carrying out other lines of enquiry to establish how the man died.
'As part of our enquiries a 20-year-old man from Fareham has been arrested on suspicion of being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.
'He has been released from custody without charge but remains under investigation while enquiries continue.'
It comes amid a spate of dog attacks across the UK, some of which have tragically lead to deaths.
Last month, mother-of-two Joanne Robinson was mauled to death by her pet American Bully XL dog after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat'.
The 43-year-old died at the scene of the attack at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
She is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco, which is on the legal dog breeds list.
A three-year-old girl also suffered life-changing injuries in Hampshire last week after being bitten by a Doberman dog.
The dog was seized by police and a 44-year-old woman was arrested in relation to the attack.
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