A schoolgirl mauled to death by her family’s pet dog has been named as Savannah Bentham. The 10-year-old has been hailed as a “wonderful girl” by loved ones. Police confirmed yesterday that the youngster had lost her life following the shocking attack. And today officers confirmed the child’s identity.
A heartbreaking statement was released through police by her family. It read: “We are utterly shocked and devastated by what happened to Savannah. We can’t believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much. We thank everyone for their support and kindness as we struggle to come to terms with our loss.
“We ask that our family’s privacy is respected while we grieve for Savannah.” The Mirror reports North Yorkshire Police is now investigating the incident, which took place in Malton, Yorkshire. After inflicting “serious injuries” on Savannah, the dog was transferred to a Kennel after being trapped in a car by a family member.
North Yorkshire Police were called to the incident by Yorkshire Ambulance Service. A force statement said Savannah suffered serious injuries after being bitten by the dog. The statement read: “Despite the efforts of medical professionals and a member of the public who came to the family’s aid, the girl sadly died at the scene.
“Officers are conducting detailed enquiries covering all aspects of the incident. One of the lines of enquiry relates to the behaviour of the dog to help explain, as far as possible, why it attacked the girl. All indications so far suggest it was out-of-character, with Savannah and the dog having a close, loving relationship. Due to the circumstances of the incident, the dog will be destroyed.”
A post-mortem examination on Savannah took place on Sunday and an inquest is due to open and adjourn in the coming days, they said. They said their officers are continuing to support the family while enquiries continue. They added: “We again urge people not to speculate about the incident and to respect the family’s wish for privacy to grieve in peace.”
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