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Boy, 4, badly hurt in dog attack | Boy, 4, badly hurt in dog attack |
(40 minutes later) | |
A four-year-old boy has been seriously injured after being attacked by a dog near Holywell in Flintshire. | A four-year-old boy has been seriously injured after being attacked by a dog near Holywell in Flintshire. |
An off-duty policeman and the boy's father intervened and all three were injured. They were taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. | |
Both men were treated for bite wounds. The boy remains in hospital with serious, not life-threatening injuries. | |
Police say the animal's breed has not yet been established, but it was not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. | Police say the animal's breed has not yet been established, but it was not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. |
It was later destroyed by a vet. | It was later destroyed by a vet. |
It is understood the youngster suffered injuries to his arm and torso. A police spokeswoman said the boy had not suffered facial injuries. | It is understood the youngster suffered injuries to his arm and torso. A police spokeswoman said the boy had not suffered facial injuries. |
Police were called at 1920 BST (1820 GMT) on Tuesday after reports the boy had been attacked on the Tan y Felin estate in Greenfield. | Police were called at 1920 BST (1820 GMT) on Tuesday after reports the boy had been attacked on the Tan y Felin estate in Greenfield. |
An off-duty police officer, Pc Tony Jones, 38, witnessed the attack and ran to the boy's aid. | |
He was bitten by the animal - described by one witness as a Rhodesian Ridgeback called Bruno - and required hospital treatment. | |
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: "He will be a key witness and we will most probably be taking a statement from him." | |
The spokeswoman confirmed the dog was not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, but added: "We are looking at other aspects of the case." | |
One neighbour who witnessed the attack said the little boy was walking along a pavement with a man - thought to be his father - when the dog came out of a house and pounced on the child. | |
"Screaming" | "Screaming" |
The witness, who did not want to be named, said a woman she believed was the dog's owner jumped on top of the animal and tried to wrestle it off the small child. | |
The neighbour added: "A man was screaming at the woman to get the dog off the child. | The neighbour added: "A man was screaming at the woman to get the dog off the child. |
"She had jumped on top of it and was trying to grab its collar to pull it off. It didn't seem to be on a lead. | "She had jumped on top of it and was trying to grab its collar to pull it off. It didn't seem to be on a lead. |
"Somehow they got the dog off and the man picked the boy up in his arms and ran up the hill with him. The child seemed to be injured. | "Somehow they got the dog off and the man picked the boy up in his arms and ran up the hill with him. The child seemed to be injured. |
"Awful" | "Awful" |
"As they were walking away, the dog went for them again but the man somehow managed to escape. It was awful." | "As they were walking away, the dog went for them again but the man somehow managed to escape. It was awful." |
There was no answer at the large detached home where neighbours said the dog came from. | There was no answer at the large detached home where neighbours said the dog came from. |
Another witness, who said she lived next door to Pc Jones, said: "I saw him come out of next door. | |
"I just heard 'get the dog off me'. The next thing, the police and ambulance arrived." | "I just heard 'get the dog off me'. The next thing, the police and ambulance arrived." |
Greenfield councillor David Wilkes said he was shocked by news of the attack. | Greenfield councillor David Wilkes said he was shocked by news of the attack. |
He added: "As parents we're always concerned about dogs mixing with young children, toddlers and babies. | He added: "As parents we're always concerned about dogs mixing with young children, toddlers and babies. |
"This highlights the need for parents and dog owners to be alert at all times to the potential danger." | "This highlights the need for parents and dog owners to be alert at all times to the potential danger." |