Man mauled to death by his own dog in front of BBC documentary crew is named

The first picture has emerged of the man mauled to death by his own dog in front of a shocked BBC documentary crew.

Mario Perivoitos, 41, died after his pet Staffordshire bull terrier, Major, bit him on the neck at his home in Wood Green, London, on March 20.

The computer expert was surrounded by a documentary crew, who were not filming at the time.

Friends of Mr Perivoitos today described him as a “really nice guy” who would help others out in the area he lived.

Angela Constantinou, 35, told the Evening Standard: “He was a good guy. I had known him since we were children, he taught me to ride a bike.

“Major seemed such a nice dog. He told me he put his dog first.

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“They called round a few weeks ago. He had two master’s degrees, one in philosophy.

“He was brilliant at computers and would fix everyone’s.

“He loved study and I don’t think he ever worked.”

Mr Perivoitos “lost his way completely” to drugs after the death of his father in 2007, according to Ms Constantinou.

His mother was also placed into a care home last year.

Neighbours of Mr Perivoitos said his home had been overrun “by drug users who took advantage of him”.

They believe the film crew were making a documentary about drug use, although the BBC has not confirmed this was the case.

Mr Perivoitos was treated by paramedics in the hallway of the flats where he live but he died in hospital two hours later.

A post-mortem attributed the cause of death to hypovolemic shock and damage to the airway consistent with a dog bite.

Top pic: Evening Standard