Skip to content

Dad's shock as son, 8, 'mauled by dog'

Pritti Mistry & Shirley Henry
BBC News
BBC A man with blonde hair and a bear, wearing a blue football shirt, wears a serious expression as he sits on a wicker chair in a garden.BBC
Luke says his son was "absolutely petrified" by the incident

An eight-year-old boy was left in "shock" and needing reconstructive surgery after being bitten in the face and arm by a dog.

Weston was riding a bicycle on Morley Street in Goole when he was "mauled" shortly before 10:00 BST on Sunday. He suffered serious injuries and was treated in hospital.

His father, Luke, said he was petrified seeing his son with "blood all over his face".

Humberside Police said a 54-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog that caused injury, before being released on conditional bail.

WARNING: This article contains an image showing facial injuries.

Luke said: "It's traumatising for an eight-year-old kid to be mauled like that. He's absolutely petrified.

"Everyone was screaming in the street. It was terrible."

Luke said his son was recovering after undergoing a five-hour operation at Leeds General Infirmary.

"It's just crazy. I didn't think it ever happen [let alone] outside your house," he added.

Despite the attack, Weston said he "still likes dogs" but was apprehensive about playing outdoors.

Family handout Weston has brown hair and brown eyes. He has a long cut under the right eye and across the bridge of his nose. His lower lip is swollen and twice the size of his upper lip. There are cuts around his mouth and on his chin. He is wearing a white t-shirt and a bandage covers the left arm. He is sitting on a hospital bed.Family handout
Weston underwent a five-hour reconstructive operation at Leeds General Infirmary following the attack

Police said the dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier, had been seized.

Ch Insp Rob Danby said: "This was clearly a very distressing event for the child and their family and the police investigation into the incident continues as we gather information relevant to our enquiries.

"Our dog legislation officer has been involved with the investigation and these discussions continue as we look to take the most appropriate action."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Related internet links