Pit bull mauls deaf, mute 3-year-old unable to call for deaf parents to death, family had to suffocate dog
In a horrific and tragic incident, a three-year-old physically disabled boy from Hanover Park in Cape Town, South Africa, reportedly died from the injuries he sustained when he was attacked by a pit bull. Luqmaan Jardien was deaf and mute. As are his parents.
According to news reports, he was in the backyard of his home in Turflyn Walk, Hanover Park, when he was mauled by the dog that belonged to his neighbor, between 9 am and 10 am on Monday, October 26. The boy was reportedly alone with the dog when the incident took place.
Other news reports, however, claim that the dog “inexplicably” jumped through a window and attacked him. No one saw the incident unfolding immediately. “We didn’t hear anything because he is mute like his parents,” an unnamed female relative of Luqmaan said. “He couldn’t scream for help.”
Luqmaan's uncle, Dawood Stuart, said that he had tried to rescue his seriously injured nephew from the dog but it was too late. “I picked Luqmaan up from where he was lying. On my way into the house, the dog came for Luqmaan again; it was a struggle for me to get him into the house,” Stuart said.
Stuart, too, was bitten by the dog while he attempted to take Luqmaan to safety in the house. He said the dog had grabbed hold of Luqmaan, and would not release him at the door of the home. He added that the dog's head was in the doorway. Using the door, he and other family members finally had managed to suffocate the animal. The dog reportedly died in the process. Stuart said, “The dog still tried to force its way in, its head was caught (in the door). They didn’t let go of the door and that is maybe when it suffocated and later died.”
The family is at a loss as to why the dog attacked Luqmaan. They said that this was not how the dog usually behaved. Stuart said, “We just took it that the dog must’ve been provoked, was somehow provoked. There’s no other way the dog would bite him. The dog was fine on other days with him. He would play with the dog with me in the afternoons,” adding that Luqmaan's parents were devastated.
As per reports, a friend of the family called Nabeelah Daniels said that Luqmaan was still breathing when he was placed on a table by Stuart. He was, however, later declared dead on arrival at Heideveld Day Hospital.
Luqmaan’s father, Ganief Jardien, said he would not want any other child or person to suffer the same fate as his son, adding, “I loved my son a lot. We were always together, and I am going to miss him a lot.” Speaking to the media, Community Police Forum executive member Yaseen Johaar said, “It’s very sad because I don’t even know if the child could call out for help.” Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk said that the Philippi police had opened an inquest into the death of the boy.