9-year-old boy dies after attack by 'bulldog-type' dog at Cornwall holiday park
A nine-year-old boy who was viciously attacked by what was described as a "bulldog-type" dog has died from his injuries, police have confirmed.
According to the BBC, paramedics from Southern Western Ambulance Service arrived at the Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall, at 4.42 am on Saturday, April 13, responding to reports that a young child had been attacked by a dog.
The police were called to a caravan at the park shortly after, at around 5 am, to reports that the victim was "unresponsive." He would later die on the scene, with authorities subsequently kickstarting a search for the dog and its owner.
They were informed that the dog and its owner were both a part of the caravan. Around three hours later, at around 8 am, they arrested a 28-year-old woman in Saltash on suspicion of manslaughter, with Devon and Cornwall Police stating that she had also been arrested on suspicion of "having a dog dangerously out of control."
The dog was also seized and transferred to the kennel, with authorities stating that the victim's next of kin were aware of all the developments and were being supported by the police. In a press release, they revealed that the victim was nine-year-old Frankie Macritchie, of Plymouth.
Speaking about the case, Mike West, Detective Superintendent from the D&C Major Crime Investigation Team, said, "Frankie had been staying at the Holiday Park in the company of adults for a number of evenings prior to his tragic death. We believe that Frankie was alone in a caravan with the dog as he was attacked, whilst that the adults that he was on holiday with, were in an adjacent unit — These two groups of people were all known to each other and all from the Plymouth area."
Following the incident, police were stopping cars at the entrance to Tencreek Holiday Park — which hosts touring, camping, and other group activities — as well as static caravans, before allowing them through.
The attack left those at the holiday inn in shock. A woman who was staying at the site with her two children said the scene was "really eerie" and that "loads of people" packed up and left immediately after.
In a statement, holiday park manager Robert Ellwood said he arrived at the site that morning to find police already there and expressed his condolences. "Clearly our thoughts are very much with the family involved — they have our deepest sympathies," he said.
West similarly said, "This is a desperately sad event which has seen a 9-year-old boy lose his life whilst on holiday; our thoughts and sympathies are with the loved ones of Frankie and all of those who knew him."
He also confirmed that the 28-year-old suspect arrested in connection to their investigation had been questioned and released.