I’m traumatised after finding my baby being suffocated by a huge RAT sitting on his face – my house is infested
A MUM was left traumatised after finding a huge rat suffocating her baby son.
Miss Setchell, 21, said her house in Coventry has been taken over by an infestation of rodents.
The horrified 21-year-old is now staying with her mum as the rodents almost killed her baby, left droppings on the beds, as well as chewed through their clothes and toys.
Speaking to CoventryLive, Miss Setchell said: “I went upstairs because he [my son] was crying.
“It sounded muffled so I thought a blanket or something was over his face but there was a massive rat sitting on his face.
“He literally suffocated.
“He could not breathe. His top lip was blue. It was terrible. I am completely traumatised by it.”
She added: “He literally could have died. If I had not heard his crying he would have died of being smothered by a rat.”
Miss Setchell claimed her daughter, who is severely disabled, is petrified of the creatures and refuses to go back under any circumstances.
The outraged mum-of-four, who has been dealing with the rats for months, demanded Midland Heart Homes treat the infestation immediately.
She claims the housing provider is yet to help them after repeated failed attempts to rehouse her family.
The young mum now suffers from anxiety and her GP has confirmed the living conditions are unsuitable.
“I have lost everything. Our belongings have been ruined. All we have got is the clothes on our back,” she added.
Vicki Brownhill, Head of Housing Management at Midland Heart, said: “When Miss Setchell first called us about this issue last Thursday (January 5), we made sure that the next day one of our dedicated housing team contacted her to discuss her issues and begin working with her to see how we could make this situation better.
“Our specialist pest control officer has already visited her home to investigate this issue and found some evidence of mice outside the property and a treatment plan has been put in place.
“We’re also working with the council to alert them to the issues that are causing pests in this area in the hope that we can all work together to find a long-term solution for not just Mis Setchell but everyone in the area.”
Another mum, living in Chatham, claimed she has been living in hell due to rats for the past seven years.
Laura Clout explained her ordeal has left her with no internet as the creatures chew through the cables – while she faces large extermination bills and health concerns.
The 37-year-old is so scared of the creatures that she refuses to leave her bed at night, even for the toilet, causing her to contract a urinary tract infection.
This comes as Brits have been warned about giant 2ft long rats invading their homes.
Even more terrifying is the fact these rodents are immune to poisons used by pest control.
Pest extermination teams say they are getting an increasing number of calls from householders to deal with rats as stormy weather is flooding their tunnels and underground nests.
It’s feared there are now as many as 200 million rats swarming over Britain.
Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Academy at Rentokil Pest Control said: “As soon as the temperature drops, rats look for somewhere warm to spend the winter.
“While most of us may associate rats with sewers and holes in the ground, brown rats are very agile climbers, and can be found in loft spaces.
“When you’re up in the loft, there are a few simple things to look out for – nests, droppings, signs of gnawing, and greasy rub marks on joists.”
Genetic testing by Huddersfield University revealed that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons.
What to do to prevent rats in your home
Inspect properties thoroughly and seal up any external gaps, holes or crevices that could provide rats with a way in.
Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood or debris.
Ensure doors and windows can be closed properly and that drain inspection covers are well maintained.
Keep bins well maintained with their lids closed, dispose of rubbish carefully and don’t leave leftover food lying around. Compost heaps should be covered.
Areas around garden bird feeders should be kept clean and pet food bowls should not be left out overnight.
Click here to find a pest controller in your area.