A seven-month-old baby, Elle Doherty, tragically died after being attacked by the family dog, an inquest has revealed.
The incident occurred on June 16 at the family’s home in Coundon. Elle was on the floor near her parents when the 31kg Belgian Malinois, named Zeus, unexpectedly attacked her. According to Coventry Coroner’s Court, the attack lasted less than a second before the dog was immediately pulled away.
Elle sustained severe head injuries, including skull fractures, and suffered a cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at the hospital about an hour later.
Elle’s parents chose not to attend the inquest hearing, with the coroner, Delroy Henry, acknowledging their understandable request for absence.
CCTV footage from an indoor security camera showed the parents’ quick response. Detective Inspector Anthony Hibbert confirmed that both parents acted swiftly to remove Zeus and secure Elle. He suggested that Elle might have accidentally leaned on Zeus, which could have triggered the attack.
In a written statement, Mr. Doherty described Zeus as a well-behaved dog, noting that the family had acquired him from a breeder in Gloucestershire in October 2020. He was reported to be friendly with both people and other dogs.
A dog-handler was called to the scene and used a sedation dart to remove Zeus, who was later euthanized at a veterinary clinic on the same day.
Closing the inquest, Mr. Henry expressed his sympathy for the family, stating, “This is certainly a tragic incident. A family has been changed forever, and my heart goes out to Elle’s parents and family.”
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