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By CHRISTINA CHIN

AN Australian tourist and her three-year-old son who were crab hunting at the Batu Ferringhi beach had the shock of their lives when a pack of dogs charged at them.

Executive assistant Miranda Tullock, 39, and her son Max, were enjoying themselves on the beach hunting for crab holes on the sand when five dogs came upon them.

The mother and son had earlier spotted the dogs on the rocks “at least 200m away” but did not think they were a threat.

The site where the Tullocks were pursued by the dogs

“We have dogs back home so we weren’t afraid of them.

“Me and Max were on the beach when the dogs suddenly charged at us.

“On their hind legs, they would easily tower over Max.

“I didn’t even have time to think and Max was just screaming. I thought we were surely going to be bitten because the dogs were just so aggressive,” she said when met at the Golden Sands Resort yesterday.

Miranda said she picked up Max and lifted him as high as she could above her head because there was no way both of them could out-run the dogs.

Relating the harrowing experience, she said some locals and tourists nearby helped her and Max.

“I was traumatised and in tears.

Traumatised: Max, in the arms of his mother Miranda, and father David in the hotel at Batu Ferringhi.

“Batu Ferringhi is a popular tourist area so we definitely did not expect this. I hope the local authorities can do more to help ensure the safety of visitors to the beach,” she said.

Her husband David, who was in his room at the time, said Miranda was badly shaken up and it was fortunate both his wife and son were unharmed on the day of the incident last Thursday.

He also urged the local authorities to take a serious look at the water sports zoning areas.

David said the swimming area was just too narrow and dangerous for swimmers.

“The parasailing ropes are dangling just above the water where people are swimming,” he said.

The family, who arrived here last Monday, are here for two-and-a-half-weeks before heading to Kuala Lumpur. [News link]

Posted by admin on December 23, 2011 under Tourism News.