Dog walker beaten unconscious by total stranger before two children come to her aid

Kay Crisp had been walking her two dogs in Mendlesham, Suffolk, when she was attacked and left for dead - but two school children sought help and she was taken to the hospital

A dog walker was left unconscious when she was beaten and left for dead by a total stranger - until two children came to her aid.

Kay Crisp had been walking her two cocker spaniels on the morning of November 18 when she was found unconscious on a footpath in Mendlesham, Suffolk. Two primary school children sought help for the woman, who is in her 60s and retired, when they saw her unconscious.

She suffered multiple breaks and fractures in her face - including to her eye socket, cheek and jaw. Suffolk Police have said they are now treating the attack as a "potential" grievous bodily harm and are appealing for witnesses.

Mrs Crisp, who takes her dogs out every morning along Old Station Road and Glebe Way, said: "I am quite frightened now and I had no idea what happened until after the actual day. They said at the hospital you did not fall. I have got no recollection of what happened. My dogs never left me and they were never touched. My biggest fear is that they won't find who did it as it's already been over a week. He could have left the country by now."

She continued: "I remember watching a jogger go past and telling my dogs to stay with me. As I went down the footpath, I don't remember anymore. I was told later I was found crying for help but I don't remember it at all.

"My husband drove me to the hospital as I was losing a lot of blood from my mouth and stomach. They'd rung for an ambulance and told it could be up to two hours. They were trying to make me conscious in the car."

Mrs Crisp was taken to Ipswich Hospital where her family were immediately told her injuries couldn't have been sustained by a fall. In the days after the attack, she visited a head trauma specialist confirmed it was likely she had been hit with either an object or a fist.

The woman, who has entered her dogs in the prestigious Crufts competition, said: "I have been in terrific pain. I was really upset because you do not want to think someone has punched and kicked you. I'm trying to get back to normal. I've got terrible tiredness and my speech hasn't been particularly good. I've got nasty headaches.

"It's been so long now I don't know whether the police will be able to find the person who did it." A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said: "We are investigating after a woman was found injured in Mendlesham.

"The woman in her 60s was found by members of the public on the ground at 08:15am, with serious facial injuries and attended hospital later that day. Police were called the following day, Tuesday 18 November, to investigate how her injuries were sustained.

"Police are conducting enquiries, including reviewing CCTV footage, and are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of the incident. Officers investigating the incident are keen to speak to a man who was jogging in the area at the time and who may have witnessed the incident.

"He is described as skinny with dark hair or a dark hat and was wearing a white vest top and white shorts." Anyone with information is asked to contact the force quoting crime reference number 37/65849/24.