WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A two-year-old boy was savaged by a dog in a pub beer garden in Staffordshire as the youngster was treated for serious injuries following the dog attack at The Wulstan pub in Wolstanton
A two-year-old boy has been mauled by a dog in a horror incident in front of horrified drinkers in a pub beer garden. The child was treated for ‘serious injuries’ following the attack at The Wulstan, in Wolstanton.
Police are continuing to investigate the dog attack that occurred at 3:06pm on Wednesday 15 July. Regular Philip Preece was in the beer garden and believes the dog was ‘some kind of Bulldog breed’.
The 63-year-old, from Wolstanton, said the boy’s mum was in tears and others were “hysterical” over the incident. Speaking about the boy’s injuries, Mr Preece said he could not “make out any of his facial features”. He added that the boy was “covered in blood” and “so much was gushing out”.
Mr Preece has seen the boy and his mum just moments before the attack as he played with some toys after eating some food. He was not present during the attack as he had gone into the pub for another drink.
He said: “I was sitting outside with a few people. The child was sitting across from me on another pub table. He was playing with some plastic dinosaurs and sitting with his mum. He had been enjoying some chicken nuggets and chips. Just having a nice family time.
“I went inside the pub to get myself another lager shandy. As I went to go back outside, the mother ran into the pub carrying her child. He was in an absolute mess. You couldn’t make out any of his facial features. He was covered in blood. His mum was too. So much was gushing out.
“I quickly learned he’d been attacked by a dog. I came out of the pub and saw this lad. He had his dog on a lead. But it hadn’t been wearing it earlier. He must have put it on quickly after the attack.
“I asked what the hell was going on. Everyone was hysterical. A young lad who works for me called 999. Thankfully, the ambulance and the paramedics arrived very quickly to take the boy to hospital.
“I was in shock. He’d just been having a nice time. Then all of a sudden his mum is in tears and he’s bleeding. It was absolutely horrific. It’s not something I’d ever like to see again. Everyone was in utter disbelief.
“The little boy was apparently going inside with his mother to use the sweet machine. Then he’s been attacked. He’s only a baby. The dog ragged him up and down after biting his face. If the dog had gone a bit lower, it could have ended up biting the boy’s throat. It could have been even more serious. We’re all just wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Emergency crews rushed the youngster to Royal Stoke University Hospital, reports Stoke on Trent Live.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called following reports a child had been bitten by a dog. An ambulance and a paramedic officer responded to the scene. The boy was given treatment for his serious injuries before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.”
Staffordshire Police are now seeking witnesses. A police spokesman said: “We were called to The Wulstan following reports that a child had been bitten by a dog. Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service.
“The child was taken to hospital with facial injuries. He has since been discharged. Our investigation is ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with any information that might help our investigation to contact us.”
Witnesses are urged to contact the police on 101, referencing incident number 592 of 15 July, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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