A GIRL of 10 was mauled to death in her family caravan by her pet XL Bully dog before her mum was heard screaming: “My baby is dead.”
The child suffered serious injuries when the animal suddenly turned on her on Friday afternoon.
Residents said she’d only recently boasted to pals: “I have got a new pet – an XL Bully.”
One said: “It is just a horrible tragedy. She was such a sweet thing. I only know her because she would come to the park to play.
“Everybody is totally shocked and upset about it. The family have not lived here long.
“I have only met her. I have never met her mum and dad.
“She would come to the park and play on the swings and I would pass the time of day with her. She was a lovely little girl – really chatty. It is just so sad.”
North Yorkshire Police were called to the property near Malton by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service at around 4.15pm.
Cops said a hero nearby tried to intervene and emergency services battled to save the girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Residents of the nearby holiday park had no idea anything was wrong until the girl’s mum ran outside screaming: “My baby is dead. My baby is dead.”
The youngster was seen happily playing on the swings in the play area of the adjoining caravan park near Malton, North Yorks, just the afternoon before tragedy struck.
She had moved there over the summer with her parents and they were living in static caravan on a private yard behind a neighbouring warehouse, near a holiday park.
A site official said: “We knew they had an XL bully dog. We only knew her because her mum had asked if she could play in the park and we said ‘Of course she can’.
“She told us she had a new dog. It was not that long ago.
“I have never seen or heard the dog and I am here every day.”
“There have been a couple of incidents when people had seen the dog come as far as the yard gate without any muzzle or lead on and that was a bit scary.
“She had said herself ‘We have got a new pet’.”
A family member managed to trap the dog inside a car until the emergency services arrived.
The dog has been seized and its breed is being assessed, police said.
Tributes have flooded in on social media for the youngster. One woman posted on Facebook: “Such sad news. My heart goes out to the family. RIP.”
Another said: “Rest peacefully young lady condolences to all concerned.”
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with the girl’s family and friends at this very distressing time.
“Officers are supporting the family while enquiries continue.”
The child’s death is the latest in a spate of fatal dog attacks in England and Wales this year.
At least seven deaths have been reported of children and adults bitten or injured by dogs over the past 10 months.
In February, it became a criminal offence to own an XL bully without a certificate.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 30 deaths caused by dog attacks in 2023, more than double the total deaths recorded in 2022.
