A two-year-old boy has died after being savagely attacked by a pit bull terrier on the popular Greek holiday island of Zakynthos. The child's British mother and father have been arrested and charged with manslaughter by negligence.
The Fatal Incident on a Family Holiday
The devastating event occurred as the family returned to their accommodation from a shopping trip. According to an investigative source speaking to The Sun, the unnamed toddler was playing in the home's courtyard when the attack happened.
It is reported the young boy momentarily escaped his parents' attention and entered a room where the dog was chained. The pit bull, which was tethered to a wall, allegedly launched itself at the child when he got too close, inflicting catastrophic bites to his face and head.
Emergency Response and Tragic Outcome
Emergency services rushed the critically injured child to the General Hospital of Zakynthos, where medical teams administered urgent first aid. Despite the doctors' best efforts to save him, the boy succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities revealed that the dog involved was reportedly a stray that the family had taken in approximately two months before the attack. They had been caring for the animal while seeking a permanent foster home for adoption.
Ongoing Investigation and a Chilling Parallel
An official inquiry into the circumstances of the death is now underway. This tragedy in Greece follows shockingly similar events in the United States just days earlier.
In Tullahoma, Tennessee, a 50-year-old man, James Alexander Smith, and his three-month-old granddaughter were found dead after being mauled by seven pit bulls inside a family home. Police were called to the scene around 3pm last Wednesday, finding both victims deceased. Some of the dogs were still attacking the infant and had to be killed to stop the assault.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has been approached for comment regarding the British family involved in the Zakynthos incident.
