Hartlepool mascot H'Angus gets surgery after dog bite: Monkey man missed pet event and Pools match

Avid Pools fan Michael Evans, who is the man behind the League Two outfit’s H’angus the monkey, missed out on Craig Hignett’s managerial debut win at Victoria Park while being treated at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The 31-year-old, who was set to be the star attraction at a promotional event for the Stray Aid charity at Pets at the Home shop in the town on Saturday, says he was bitten by a dog on the street which led to him being laid up in a hospital bed over the weekend.

The Nissan worker underwent surgery on Sunday on his injured left hand and is already looking forward to cheering on his footballing favourites in their next game on Tuesday.

But he is not sure if he will pass a late fitness test in order to get suited up for the occasion.

Michael, from Trimdon Station, said; “I was leaving for work at Nissan at 2pm on Friday afternoon when I saw what I thought was a stray dog on the street.

“I stopped to check its collar and tag and was taking a picture of it when it bit me on the hand.

“It ran off and I followed it to its home.

“The owner couldn’t have been any more apologetic and hadn’t realised his dog had got out of the house.

“It was just an accident. The dog had got frightened and bit me.”

Mr Evans went to work as usual and visited the plant’s medical centre, where he was advised to visit Pallion walk-in centre in Sunderland for treatment after his hand had ‘gone blue’.

He was given an X-ray and had the wound cleaned up and given an appointment at the hand trauma unit at the Durham City hospital on Saturday morning.

Mr Evans added: “I was due to attend an event with Stray Aid - and it is just a coincidence I happended to be bitten by a dog.

“I was gutted to miss the Hartlepool match for Craig Hignett’s first match in charge.

“I followed the match on my phone from the hospital.

“Thankfully I was in a room on my own so other people weren’t disturbed by my cheers.

“I underwent surgery so that doctors could check whether there was any tendon damage, which thankfully there wasn’t.

“My arm is in a sling and my hand has been patched up. The care at the hospital on ward 12 has been brilliant.”

He is hoping to be back at work on Tuesday before attending Hartlepool United’s crunch clash with Notts County later in the day.