Bloemfontein – A 17-year-old girl has been viciously attacked by a pack of dogs while on her way to a new school.

Modiehi Mashinini was walking to the school in Welkom through an open field when one dog stormed at her, reported Volksblad.

She managed to get away from the first dog but when she turned her head she saw four other dogs rush towards her.

“I was terrified. I thought they were going to kill me. I shouted and blocked with my hands but it didn’t help. The dogs later pulled me onto the ground and kept on biting me. I protected my face and neck. I couldn’t do any more and waited for them to kill me.”

Mashinini was eventually helped by an elderly man who heard her cries for help and threw stones at the dogs, chasing them away.

She was taken to hospital where an emergency operation was performed and more than 100 stitches were needed to mend the wounds to her feet, legs, hands, arms, back and sides.

The dogs were later caught by the SPCA and charges were being considered against the owners.