Ten-year-old mauled to death by pet XL Bully is named by her family

The heartbroken family of a ten-year-old child who was mauled to death by her own XL bully dog have paid tribute to their 'wonderful girl who we love so much'.

Savannah Bentham suffered fatal injuries after being attacked by her pet at home at around 4.15pm on Friday in Malton, Yorkshire.

Traumatic scenes - which saw the girl's mother running outside screaming 'my baby's dead' - unfolded in the sleepy Yorkshire village after Savannah had reportedly boasted to her pals: 'I have got a new pet - an XL bully'. 

In a statement via North Yorkshire Police, Savannah's family said they were 'utterly shocked' and 'devastated', adding: 'We can't believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.'

They continued: '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.'

Witnesses spoke out yesterday on the tragic incident that sparked a huge emergency response on Friday afternoon.

The schoolgirl died after being bitten by her family's dog inside their home. The family live in a static caravan in a compound behind a shop premises in East Heslerton, North Yorkshire.

The girl's father works as a mechanic there and she is the couple's only child, said local residents.

North Yorkshire Police said the girl had a 'close, loving relationship' with the dog that went on to kill her. The force said the mutt would be put down.

People at a nearby caravan site were alerted by the screams of the girl's traumatised mother at around 4.15pm on Friday.

One local farmer, who asked not to be named, said: 'The dog is an XL bully. It has been certified and is well looked after. It's a very big dog. I've seen it around the pub a few times, it doesn't bother anyone or other dogs and is well-behaved.'

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EXCLUSIVE
Girl mauled to death by own 'XL Bully' dog had a 'loving relationship' with it and boasted to pals

Describing the incident, the farmer said: 'The mother ran out from the static caravan screaming 'my baby's dead.' Some people from the caravan site went over to help. She was obviously really distraught.

'The police got here very fast, there were two helicopters, ambulances turned up and an armed response unit.

'Someone put the dog in a car apparently.'

The farmer said the family lived in a static caravan behind the business where he worked as a mechanic.

'They are really nice people. The girl is a really polite girl who always says please and thank you. She was a lovely little lass who you would see riding her bike around.'

A man who was in one of the nearby caravans was in a pub on the site when there was a massive emergency response.

'The mother came out screaming about her 'baby.' It's terrible. I have a son aged 11 of about the same age who knew her. I've not told him yet. She was a really beautiful little girl and very intelligent for her age.'

Commenting on the dog, he said: 'It is a massive dog and looks like an XL bully but I don't know the breed.'

Another villager who knows the family also confirmed the dog was an XL bully.

North Yorkshire Police said Savannah died at the scene after suffering serious injuries. A post-mortem examination took place on Sunday evening and an inquest will open in the coming days.

The force has not identified the dog's breed, but several neighbours said it was an XL Bully. 

Ownership of American Bully XL dogs is restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Since the start of this year it has been against the law to sell, give away, abandon or breed an XL bully.

Since February 1 it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

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BREAKING NEWS
Girl, 10, dies after being bitten by her family dog, police say

When this ban was introduced a government press release stated there had been 23 fatal dog attacks since the start of 2021 with the XL bully 'being involved in many of these tragic attacks'.

The Office for National Statistics does not break down attacks according to breed.

Caravan site manager Samantha Robinson said: 'The static caravan moved here about four months ago.

'This little girl said she had a new pet, an American XL bully.

'She was a lovely little girl, she asked permission to play on the swings in the park and we gave it.' 

Some residents saw the child coming and going to her caravan. One said: 'It is just a horrible tragedy. She was such a sweet thing. I only know her because she would come in the park to play.

'Everybody is totally shocked and upset about it. The family have not lived here long. I have only met her, I have never met her mum and dad.

'She would come to the park and play on the swings and I would pass the time of day with her. She was a lovely little girl - really chatty. It is just so sad.'

Residents of the holiday caravan park had no idea anything was wrong until the girl's mother emerged from the caravan screaming: 'My baby is dead. My baby is dead.'

The child was seen happily playing on the swings in the play area of the adjoining caravan park near Malton, North Yorkshire, not long before tragedy struck.

She had moved there with her parents over the summer and they were living in static caravan on a private yard behind a warehouse.

A site official said: 'We knew they had an XL bully dog. We only knew [the girl] because her mum had asked if she could play in the park and we said 'of course she can'.

'[The girl] told us she had a new dog. It was not that long ago... Other children who played with [the girl] in the yard said it was family pet.

'The static caravan arrived during the summer in a field next to the Snooty Fox caravan park outside the village of East Heslerton.' 

North Yorkshire Police said: '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 the girl and dog having a close, loving relationship.

'Due to the circumstances of the incident, the dog will be destroyed.'