Coventry dog ​​attack: Seven-month-old girl pictured after pet killed her

The first photo of a little girl who was mauled to death by a pet dog has been released.

Seven-month-old Elle Doherty died after the family pet launched a horrific attack. Officers from West Midlands Police were called to a property on Shorncliffe Road in Coventry shortly after 3pm on Sunday 16 June. Doctors rushed to the scene and took her to hospital with serious head injuries. She tragically died a short time later.

The dog, which was described as a Belgian Malinois, was removed from the home and put down. On Saturday, police said they were “satisfied” no crime had been committed.

In a statement, police said: “Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a child who tragically died after being bitten by a pet dog at a home in Coventry, detectives are now satisfied that no foul play took place criminal. I was called to a property on Shorncliffe Road shortly after 3pm on Sunday, together with our colleagues from the ambulance, we arrived within minutes.

“Seven-month-old Elle Doherty suffered serious head injuries after being bitten by the family dog ​​inside the home. Elle was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to hospital for further treatment. Tragically, she died a short time later. Our thoughts remain with her family during this devastating time.

“The pet dog, registered as a Belgian Malinois, was removed from the home on Sunday and humanely destroyed. We have updated Elle’s family and a file is now being prepared for the coroner. Our thoughts remain with the family at this tragic time, and they have now asked to be allowed to grieve in private.”

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said earlier: “We were called to a medical emergency at a private address on Shorncliffe Road in Coventry at 3.01pm on Sunday. Two ambulances, a specialist paramedic, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance were sent to the scene, crews found a female patient, a child, who, following treatment, was taken to hospital by land ambulance.”

A local resident shared his grief over the incident and said: “It’s awful, and on Father’s Day too. They are a lovely couple and it’s such a shame. The baby was their first child and she seemed like a pretty girl. He seemed very happy and will be absolutely crushed by this. I can’t imagine anything worse to lose a child in this way it’s just heartbreaking.”

Another added: “I didn’t realize anything had happened until I saw it on the news. It’s just awful. This is just a normal, quiet road and you wouldn’t think in a million years something like this wouldn’t happen here.”