Baby girl mauled to death by ‘American pitbull type’ dog
The mother of a baby who died after being attacked by a pet dog, is arrested on suspicion of manslaughter along with her boyfriend.
The baby girl was taken to hospital at 11pm on Monday night after being attacked by what police described as an “American pitbull type”, and later died.
She was named by police as Ava-Jayne Marie Corless.
The baby’s mother, 20, and her boyfriend have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and are in police custody. They have been named locally as Chloe King and Lee Wright.
Chief Superintendent Chris Bithell said: “The lady in custody is the baby’s mother and the male in custody is the mother’s current boyfriend.
“The baby was upstairs in a bed in one of the front bedrooms and the two people who are currently in custody – they were downstairs when the attack took place.”
Police and ambulance staff attempted to resuscitate the baby but she was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after arriving.
‘American pitbull type’
The dog was seized from Emily Street, Blackburn by Lancashire Police, who described it as an “American pitbull type”, but said tests to confirm the breed would be carried out.
Officers are continuing to carry out inquiries at the scene and the cul-de-sac was cordoned off as police continued to gather evidence at the property, a modern two-storey house.
The baby’s father Dean Corless said he was “devastated” at what had happened. “She was the most beautiful and adorable little girl, she was just the best. She was my whole world,” he said.
“Her mum and I aren’t together anymore, but I saw Ava-Jayne all the time – I only saw her at the weekend.
“But I will miss her every single day, I just don’t know what to do now. It is just so tragic. I have my family around me now, but we are all devastated.”
Detective Superintendent Simon Giles said: “This is a tragic incident and specially trained officers are offering support to the wider family. A full investigation is under way.”
No-one else was injured during the attack.
The incident follows the death of four-year-old Lexi Branson in November last year, who was mauled to death by a pet do.
Despite her mother’s desperate attempts to halt the attack, Lexi died at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre after being attacked at a flat in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. It later emerged that the dog had been a stray until a couple of months earlier.
