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Colchester dog attack: Baby killed and brother seriously hurt | Colchester dog attack: Baby killed and brother seriously hurt |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A four-month-old baby boy has died and his 22-month-old brother is seriously injured after a dog attack in Colchester. | A four-month-old baby boy has died and his 22-month-old brother is seriously injured after a dog attack in Colchester. |
The dog also attacked the children's mother. The surviving boy was left with "life-changing injuries", Essex Police said. | |
Officers were called to the junction of Tara Close and Harwich Road at 15:10 BST on Thursday following reports someone had been bitten by a dog. | Officers were called to the junction of Tara Close and Harwich Road at 15:10 BST on Thursday following reports someone had been bitten by a dog. |
Police said the dog had been put down. | |
The seriously injured child was taken to Colchester General Hospital and later transferred to a specialist unit. | |
The boys' mother sustained minor injuries after being bitten. | |
Latest updates after baby killed by dog | Latest updates after baby killed by dog |
The attack comes just eight weeks after another fatal dog attack in Essex when three-year-old Dexter Neal was bitten by an American bulldog in Halstead. | |
A woman was arrested and bailed in connection with that attack. | |
Essex Police said no arrests had been made so far in connection with the Colchester attack. | |
Ch Insp Elliot Judge described the baby's death and his brother's injury as a "tragic incident" and said officers were supporting the family. | |
Police would not confirm dog's breed but said it had been put to sleep "with the consent of the owner". | |
Neighbours told the BBC the family had only recently moved to the area. | |
One, Dave Thompson, said: "The first thing I noticed was an armed response vehicle. | |
"I saw what must have been the first ambulance roar off under police escort." | "I saw what must have been the first ambulance roar off under police escort." |
He said police backed into the drive of the house to "recover the animal" which he described as a "Staffordshire bull breed". | |
"It was alive and not aggressive when they brought it out of the house and put it into the back of the van. It was quite big, I think it was a cross breed. | "It was alive and not aggressive when they brought it out of the house and put it into the back of the van. It was quite big, I think it was a cross breed. |
"Everyone had been pushed back by the police and a woman came out of the house first," he said. | "Everyone had been pushed back by the police and a woman came out of the house first," he said. |
At the scene | At the scene |
Ian Puckey, BBC Essex Political Producer | Ian Puckey, BBC Essex Political Producer |
We were told on Thursday that three people, including a baby and child, had been injured in an attack by a dog. | We were told on Thursday that three people, including a baby and child, had been injured in an attack by a dog. |
Earlier today the terrible update came through from police that the baby has died of those injuries. | Earlier today the terrible update came through from police that the baby has died of those injuries. |
As the first floral tributes are laid outside the house, it's apparent the whole community has been affected by this tragedy. | As the first floral tributes are laid outside the house, it's apparent the whole community has been affected by this tragedy. |
Everybody I've spoken to here is in shock. | Everybody I've spoken to here is in shock. |
Another neighbour, Scott Mills, who lives in a house opposite, described how passing schoolchildren gathered to witness the aftermath of the tragedy. | |
"There were a lot of children about because of the time - a lot of children were coming home from school," the 24-year-old said. | |
He described the dog removed from the house as "not a normal Staffie. It was a lot more chunky probably a Staffordshire cross or some kind of bulldog breed". | |
Mr Mills added: "No-one opposite knows the family but I wish them the best at this awful time." | |
Will Quince, MP for Colchester, tweeted: "So sad to hear of the death of a baby in a dog attack in Colchester. My thoughts and prayers are with his brother now at Colchester Hospital." | Will Quince, MP for Colchester, tweeted: "So sad to hear of the death of a baby in a dog attack in Colchester. My thoughts and prayers are with his brother now at Colchester Hospital." |
He later tweeted to say he understood the boy had been transferred to a "specialist unit". | He later tweeted to say he understood the boy had been transferred to a "specialist unit". |
The scene remains cordoned off. | The scene remains cordoned off. |