‘Beautiful’ toddler killed at home by dog family had for one week named as Bella-Rae Birch

Parents left ‘grieving and in complete shock’, say police as investigation continues into pet’s breed

Police outside a house in St Helens after a 17-month-old girl died after being attacked by a dog (PA)

A “beautiful” toddler who died after being mauled by a dog bought by her family only a week ago has been named by police as Bella-Rae Birch.

The 17-month-old girl died in hospital from her injuries following the attack at her home in Blackbrook, St Helens, Merseyside, on Monday afternoon.

Neighbours described their attempts to save the toddler, who has been described as a “beautiful little girl”.

One resident said: “We pulled up from school and heard screaming. I just ran over to try to help and started CPR until the paramedics took over.”

The neighbour, who is due to train as a paramedic at university, said the child’s parents were “hysterical”.

Another resident, who also helped give CPR, said: “The parents doted on the children. It’s too upsetting to say anything else.”

Speaking to reporters outside the house on Tuesday, Merseyside Police superintendent Steve Brizell said the child’s death had left her family and the wider community “grieving and in complete shock”.

A woman lays flowers outside a house in St Helens as neighbours pay tribute to the ‘beautiful’ 17-month-old girl killed in a dog attack inside the property (Peter Byrne/PA)

He said: “Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time.

“At this stage, we understand the family dog they bought just a week earlier has attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home.

“Bella-Rae was taken by ambulance to hospital by paramedics but despite the best efforts of police officers at the scene, the paramedics and doctors sadly Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries yesterday afternoon.

“It has left a family and a community grieving and in complete shock.

Merseyside Police superintendent Steve Brizell speaks to media outside the house where 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch was mauled to death by a dog her family bought only a week earlier (Peter Byrne/PA)

“During the incident, the dog was handed over to police at the address and has been humanely destroyed.

“Detailed investigations are continuing into this tragic event.

“Forensic examinations to determine the dog’s breed are ongoing and we are working to identify all the previous owners of the dog so we can establish its history.”

Neighbour Joanne Matthews, 53, said Bella-Rae was “such a beautiful little girl, toddling about”.

She added: “I’d see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.”

Ms Matthews said she saw an ambulance outside the house in Bidston Avenue at about 3.50pm on Monday and then about 10 police vehicles arrive.

A police officer wipes her eyes outside the house in St Helens (Peter Byrne/PA)

She said: “I saw them bring the dog out. I couldn’t tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pit bull.”

The dog is being examined to determine whether it was banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991), police said.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she got home from the shops at about 4.30pm to find the area busy with police.

She said: “My friend gave me a lift and I said to her, ‘There’s got to have been a murder.’

A police car (bottom centre) outside the house in St Helens (Peter Byrne/PA)

“The mum was on the field at the front of the house crying. She was hysterical.

“It is usually very quiet here and safe for children, but when you hear something like this has happened it is so distressing.”

Police are urging anyone who was in the Bidston Avenue area on Monday afternoon and may have witnessed something or who has information about the dog to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police on Twitter MerPolCC, or via Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook, using the reference number 22000196837.