Ian Price, an independent inspector for The British Institute of KBB Installation (BiKBBI), has died following a “horrific” dog attack in Staffordshire.
The attack occurred at around 3:15pm Thursday, September 14, while Price was with his mother in the village of Stonnall. Two dogs – currently believed to be American XL Bullies – were reportedly involved in the attack after they had escaped from a nearby property. It is believed that Price was defending his elderly mother when he sustained fatal injuries from the dogs, and passed away in hospital the next day.
Staffordshire police have reported that a 30-year-old man from the Lichfield area has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and being in charge of dogs dangerously out of control. He was released on bail on Saturday.
In a statement released on its website, BIKBBI commented: “Ian Price, aged 52, was an Independent Inspector for BiKBBI and a highly skilled kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom installation manager. His commitment to his industry and his contributions to our community were immeasurable. Ian’s passion for excellence and his unwavering dedication to the industry earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and peers.
“The BiKBBI team extends its deepest condolences to Ian’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We encourage all members of the installation community to reach out to one another for support during this challenging time. We understand that this will come as a huge shock for those who knew him.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the emergency services and authorities who responded to the incident promptly. Their professionalism and compassion during this difficult time have been invaluable.”
Speaking to kbbreview, BiKBBI chief executive Damian Walters said: “I’ve known Ian for over 20 years, both in my capacity as an installation manager in my early career and more recently at BiKBBI. Ian was a much-loved and highly regarded installation specialist, who worked for many familiar retail brands as an installation manager himself. In his very nature, Ian was a kind, supportive and professional member of our industry’s community and known by hundreds, if not thousands, of installers and installation specialists from his years of dedicated service to our sector.
“Ian became and independent inspector at BiKBBI in 2015 and was instrumental in the development of our service. He supported me personally to develop the proposition and pave the way for a service that has and will help the industry to overcome installation challenges. Always with a smile and a positive outlook, Ian was an incredible asset to the KBB industry and he will be missed by us all.
“I have spoken to many of his former colleagues and have received hundreds of messages, both directly and via social media since last week – everyone echoing the shock of what’s happened and how Ian had impacted their lives and careers. It is very clear that Ian was a very special person, not just to me, but for the many, many people he worked with over a long and successful career.
“My sincerest condolences go to his wife Heather and his children at this most tragic of times – we stand with you.”
The BiKBBI said it plans to establish a memorial trust in Price’s honour, with details to follow soon. In the meantime, it has established an online book of condolences, which can be found here.
Following the attack, as well as a series of recent similar incidents involving the same breed, prime minister Rishi Sunak has outlined plans to ban the dog breed before the end of the year, calling them a “danger to our communities.”