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| Baby killed and brother injured in Colchester dog attack, police say | Baby killed and brother injured in Colchester dog attack, police say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A baby boy has died and his brother has been seriously injured after they were attacked by a dog in Colchester. | A baby boy has died and his brother has been seriously injured after they were attacked by a dog in Colchester. |
| Emergency services were called to an address in Harwich Road at 3.10pm on Thursday. The boy who was wounded was left with “life-changing injuries”, police said. | Emergency services were called to an address in Harwich Road at 3.10pm on Thursday. The boy who was wounded was left with “life-changing injuries”, police said. |
| A woman was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after being bitten by the dog, whose breed was unknown. | A woman was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after being bitten by the dog, whose breed was unknown. |
| Ch Insp Elliot Judge said: “This is a tragic incident that Essex police is investigating. Specially trained officers are providing support to the family at this difficult time.” | Ch Insp Elliot Judge said: “This is a tragic incident that Essex police is investigating. Specially trained officers are providing support to the family at this difficult time.” |
| The baby was initially transferred to Colchester general hospital after the attack, but later died from his injuries. | The baby was initially transferred to Colchester general hospital after the attack, but later died from his injuries. |
| In a statement on Thursday, the local ambulance service said: “We dispatched three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer, and an air ambulance from the Essex and Herts air ambulance trust. At the scene two young children were treated by crews, one for life-threatening injuries, and the other for life-changing injuries.” | |
| Officers removed the dog from the property after the incident. | Officers removed the dog from the property after the incident. |
| A neighbour, who did not want to be named but was at home at the time of the attack, said: “The whole community is in shock. It’s all very upsetting. You are caught off guard with these things. I am very upset about it all. My children saw it [the aftermath] and are very upset. | |
| “We suddenly saw police cars at the house and the fact that it was two children is very upsetting. The little baby couldn’t have done anything. It’s just so sad. I didn’t know the family well but you look out of the window and recognise your neighbours. I just can’t believe it.” | “We suddenly saw police cars at the house and the fact that it was two children is very upsetting. The little baby couldn’t have done anything. It’s just so sad. I didn’t know the family well but you look out of the window and recognise your neighbours. I just can’t believe it.” |
| Scott Mills, who lives in a house opposite, became aware of “commotion” when he saw four police cars and two ambulances arrive at the family home on Thursday afternoon. | |
| The 24-year-old, who was among a crowd of concerned neighbours and passers-by who gathered as emergency services cordoned off the road, said: “When we heard that a baby had died, everyone was very upset. It’s dreadful and so tragic. | |
| “There were a lot of children about because of the time - a lot of children were coming home from school.” | |
| Mills believes the dog was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog, although the breed has not been confirmed by police: “I saw the dog being taken away. At 4pm a black van arrived. The dog was taken out of the property at 4.30pm. It was on a pole lead. It wasn’t a normal Staffie. It was a lot more chunky - probably a Staffordshire cross or some kind of bulldog breed. | |
| “No one opposite knows the family but I wish them the best at this awful time for them after a tragic accident.” | |
| Will Quince, MP for Colchester, spoke of his sorrow at the incident, tweeting: “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, spoke of his sorrow at the incident, tweeting: “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.” |