A five-year-old is recovering after being savagely attacked by two Alsatians in a ‘bloodbath’ mauling that left him with a seven-inch wound to his head.
Jayjay Batey, from Chester-le-Street in Durham, was pinned down by the dogs who bit into his head and arm.
His older sister, Emily, seven, watched on in horror, helplessly, as her brother was attacked.
Jayjay required surgery lasting almost three hours following the attack, with doctors confessing it is one of worst incidents of its kind they’ve seen.
Now, the brave youngster is now recovering from the traumatic ordeal at his family home.
Jayjay required surgery lasting almost three hours following the attack, with doctors confessing it is one of worst incidents ofits kind they’ve seen
Mother Steph Carr said: ‘It was just a bloodbath. Jayjay was sat on a stool but his eyes were rolling in the back of his head.
‘Blood was pouring down – the amount he was losing, he was in really grave danger.’
The Newker Primary schoolboy and Emily were staying with nan Marie Alderson when they knocked for a friend at about 10.30am on September 24.
But after they started to walk away from the house, the door reopened and the Alsatians sprinted towards them.
Steph, 25, arrived within minutes of hearing the news and upon seeing Jayjay feared he could lose his life.
‘Most of the damage was done to the back of Jayjay’s head, he had a gash to his arm and he is now covered in bruises and bite marks,’ she said.
‘It was horrendous, you could see his skull. I was just trying to keep him calm, awake and get him to hospital.’
Jayjay was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham where surgeons got to work stitching his head wound.
Now, Steph fears her son will be scarred for life and revealed Emily is still recovering from seeing the horrific ordeal unfold.
Mother Steph Carr said: ‘It was just a bloodbath. Jayjay was sat on a stool but his eyes were rolling in the back of his head’
The mother-of-four said: ‘Emily only went back to school on Thursday as she’s traumatised.
‘Jayjay can’t remember any of it. He’s been doing okay but he is going to have a huge scar – his hair is never going to grow and cover that.
‘My little girl ran and she was very lucky, but she watched it all and saw the blood and everyone panic.
‘We’re taking it a day at a time for both of them.’
Steph said the reality only set in once she saw Jayjay being wheeled into surgery, and the family have been flooded with messages of support since returning home.
The shaken mother fears the long-term impact the attack will have on her children, and has criticised dog owners who keep ‘vicious’ pets
The shaken mother fears the long-term impact the attack will have on her children, and has criticised dog owners who keep ‘vicious’ pets.
She said: ‘The hospital said it was the worst dog attack on a child they had seen where the child had survived.
‘You hear of these things happening but you never expect it to happen to you. Jayjay’s been attacked for doing nothing and minding his own business.
‘They were vicious animals and I don’t see why anybody should be put in this position because someone else can’t control their dog.
‘Why bother having them if they are so vicious?’
Durham Constabulary confirmed two dogs have been seized although no-one has been arrested.