Boy, 9, mauled by 100lb American bulldog died of ‘devastating’ injuries after animal attacked his head and neck

A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy who was mauled by a 100lb American bulldog died of “devastating” injuries after being attacked in the head and neck, an inquest heard.

Frankie MacRitchie, from Plymouth, was fatally injured when he was attacked by the dog in April 2019.

The boy had been on holiday at Tencreek Holiday Park, Cornwall with his mum, Tawney Willies, and her friend Sadie Totterdell when the attack took place.

On April 12, Totterdell brought the American bulldog cross Staffordshire bull terrier, called Winston, to the caravan and that evening went out with Willis and other friends, leaving Frankie alone with the animal.

When Willis returned, she found her young son lying on the kitchen floor covered in blood and called emergency services.

Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 5am. They carried out CPR for 30 minutes but declared Frankie dead at 5.35am.

It’s understood the young boy was playing a computer game when the attack took place.

Speaking at an inquest into the Frankie’s death, Dr Deborah Cook, a Home Office registered forensic pathologist, said he had died from blood loss caused by multiple dog bites.

“The wounds have the characteristics of dog bites in a mauling type of attack,” she said.

“The concentration of the injuries over the head and the neck is in keeping with the recognised behaviour of dogs in attack.”

Frankie suffered 54 injury wounds to his face, head, neck, chest, back, leg and had defensive wounds to his arm before bleeding to death.

Asked if Frankie’s blood-thinning medication may have caused more blood loss, Dr Cook told the court: “[The attack was] so devastating that any child or adult would have died from the blood loss.

“Even had this occurred outside a large hospital door, I doubt Frankie could have been saved.”

There has been a criminal process relating to two prosecutions.

The court heard Willis and Totterdell were later prosecuted and jailed.

Totterdell, now 29, was jailed for three years in the same case after admitting being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

Willis was jailed for two years at Truro Crown Court after admitting child neglect.

Frankie’s father Billy, grandmother Pauline Elford, and aunt Danielle who are present, praised the emergency crews along with the coroner saying: “You brought us some comfort in the darkness by letting us sit with Frankie in his last moments.”

The inquest continues.

Alamy

A picture of an American Staffordshire Terrior[/caption]