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| Three-week-old baby dies after being bitten by dog in Sunderland | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A three-week-old baby boy has died after being bitten by a dog in Sunderland. | |
| Reggie Blacklin was attacked at a house in Falkland Road at about 04:15 BST. | Reggie Blacklin was attacked at a house in Falkland Road at about 04:15 BST. |
| He was taken to hospital where he later died. Police said the small terrier dog had been removed from the address and was likely to be destroyed. | He was taken to hospital where he later died. Police said the small terrier dog had been removed from the address and was likely to be destroyed. |
| Northumbria Police said a 30-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. | Northumbria Police said a 30-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances. |
| A family member, who did not want be identified, said the baby's mother - named locally as Maria Blacklin - was not in the house when the youngster was attacked. | A family member, who did not want be identified, said the baby's mother - named locally as Maria Blacklin - was not in the house when the youngster was attacked. |
| The man said the baby's mother never left her son alone with the dog and she was devastated by what had happened. | The man said the baby's mother never left her son alone with the dog and she was devastated by what had happened. |
| A neighbour said the baby was a "lovely bairn". | A neighbour said the baby was a "lovely bairn". |
| She said: "They're all right [the family], they're no bother and his wife, she looks after them bairns, she was over the moon with her little boy. | She said: "They're all right [the family], they're no bother and his wife, she looks after them bairns, she was over the moon with her little boy. |
| "It's a shock more than anything else, I cannot get over it. It's shocking." | "It's a shock more than anything else, I cannot get over it. It's shocking." |
| Flowers have been laid against the front wall of the house, along with cards bearing messages of support. | Flowers have been laid against the front wall of the house, along with cards bearing messages of support. |
| Superintendent Gillian Mitchell said: "As you can appreciate, we have concerns with regards to the care of the child at the time this incident occurred. | Superintendent Gillian Mitchell said: "As you can appreciate, we have concerns with regards to the care of the child at the time this incident occurred. |
| "They [the family] are absolutely devastated as you would imagine, it's tragic to lose a child at any stage, but in these circumstances it is just unbelievable. | "They [the family] are absolutely devastated as you would imagine, it's tragic to lose a child at any stage, but in these circumstances it is just unbelievable. |
| "They are receiving support... it is a very difficult time, the officers attending the scene this morning were faced with quite a significant incident to deal with. | "They are receiving support... it is a very difficult time, the officers attending the scene this morning were faced with quite a significant incident to deal with. |
| "It's a tragic isolated incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the baby and indeed our officers who have dealt with this incident." | "It's a tragic isolated incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the baby and indeed our officers who have dealt with this incident." |
| Police said additional officers were in the area to provide reassurance to support the public during an "horrendous time in the community". | Police said additional officers were in the area to provide reassurance to support the public during an "horrendous time in the community". |
| A police car remains parked directly outside the front of the property. | A police car remains parked directly outside the front of the property. |
| Police said the family's dog posed no threat to the wider public and is now in secure kennels. | Police said the family's dog posed no threat to the wider public and is now in secure kennels. |
| More than 200,000 people a year are estimated to be bitten by dogs in England, according to research for the British Medical Journal. | More than 200,000 people a year are estimated to be bitten by dogs in England, according to research for the British Medical Journal. |
| Since 2005, 22 people have been killed by dogs in the UK, 12 of them children, according to the Office for National Statistics. | Since 2005, 22 people have been killed by dogs in the UK, 12 of them children, according to the Office for National Statistics. |