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Colchester dog attack: Baby killed and brother seriously hurt | Colchester dog attack: Baby killed and brother seriously hurt |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A four-month-old baby boy died and his 22-month-old brother was seriously injured in a dog attack. | |
The surviving boy was left with "life-changing injuries" and is being treated in a specialist unit. | |
Their mother also sustained minor injuries in the attack after being bitten by the animal inside a house in Harwich Road, Colchester. | |
Essex Police said said the dog - believed to have been a "Staffordshire bull terrier-type" - had been put down. | |
Latest updates after baby killed by dog | Latest updates after baby killed by dog |
Police were called to investigate the attack on Thursday afternoon. | |
Tributes including flowers and toys have been left outside the house. One card left with a bunch of roses read: "RIP little man." | Tributes including flowers and toys have been left outside the house. One card left with a bunch of roses read: "RIP little man." |
The attack comes just eight weeks after three-year-old Dexter Neal was bitten by an American bulldog in Halstead, Essex. | The attack comes just eight weeks after three-year-old Dexter Neal was bitten by an American bulldog in Halstead, Essex. |
A woman was arrested and bailed in connection with that incident. | A woman was arrested and bailed in connection with that incident. |
Police said no arrests had been made so far in connection with the Colchester attack. | 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. | 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 the dog's breed but said it had been put to sleep "with the consent of the owner". | Police would not confirm the 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. |
Another neighbour, Scott Mills, who lives in a house opposite, described how passing schoolchildren gathered to witness the aftermath of the tragedy. | 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. | "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". | 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." | 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 road remains cordoned off. | The road remains cordoned off. |
A post-mortem examination of the baby is expected to take place late next week. |