A teenager who was savaged during a dog attack has been hailed a “hero” for shielding his puppy and younger brother during the ordeal.

Police were called to Stanley Gardens in Herne Bay on Tuesday afternoon after a 17-year-old boy and a Dachshund had been attacked by an aggressive dog.

The teen and his younger brother had been walking their 18-month-old pup Dougie in the area when the incident happened after the attacking dog escaped from its garden.

The youngster was dragged to the floor by the dog, shredding his clothes, before he quickly got up and held Dougie in the air while shielding his 13-year-old brother from the violent canine.

The teenager required medical attention, with doctors creating a body map of his injuries before flushing and dressing his nasty wounds.

In the aftermath of the ordeal, his mum Cara told KentOnline Dougie is lucky to be alive and a younger child “wouldn’t have stood a chance”.

“Just an hour before this, children were playing football in this exact spot,” she said.

“My son has multiple bites and puncture wounds all over his legs and arms as well as on his shoulder, chest and hips.

“It was an extremely traumatic experience for both my boys and the puppy.

“There were lots of witnesses, thank God the neighbours came out and helped.

“They called an ambulance and the police, I cannot thank them enough.

“My son is a hero, he was so brave for not only protecting our pup but his younger brother too, putting himself in the path of the dog between them.

“If it had been a young child and not a six-foot, 17-year-old they wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

Both the boy and Dougie are recovering well at home, though are understandably very shaken up by the incident.

The Dachshund pup also required treatment after being bitten multiple times.

Despite reports of the dog being an XL bully, officers are working under the impression it is a Rottweiler-bulldog cross-breed.

The offending mutt was secure at its owner’s home when officers attended and police opted not to seize it as it is not a banned breed, offering advice on using a muzzle instead.

A police spokesman has confirmed an investigation into the incident is ongoing.