A shocking video captured the moment a woman was m@uled by a pit bull on a beach in the Dominican Republic.
Luisa Encarnación, 53, was seen being bitten by the dog on the shore of Palenque Beach in the southern city of Sabana Grande de Palenque on Sunday, March 30.
The video showed the dog trying to drag the screaming woman by her hair as she tried to crawl away.
Bystanders took turns hitting the dog with a stick to stop its attack but they were unsuccessful.
However, a brave man managed to pull the dog off the woman and punched it over the head, while another person tended to Encarnación.
According to Dominican television news channel Noticias SIN, the woman was rushed to a medical facility and underwent an emergency operation.
Encarnación, who suffered head, neck and face injuries, survived the ordeal.
National Police investigators launched a search for the dog owner, who could be held liable for the attack.
In response to the incident, Sabana Grande de Palenque Mayor, Miguel Valera, met with agents of the Central Directorate of Tourism Police and banned the presence of dogs on the beach.
Concerned residents took to social media to call for legislation against dog owners to protect beach and park visitors from future attacks.
Watch the video below.
