A mother has recounted the horrifying moment her five-year-old autistic son was mauled by an off-leash dog in a Doncaster park, leaving the boy screaming 'I'm going to die' and requiring surgery for his injuries.
A Walk Home Turns Into a Nightmare
Joanne Goffey, 28, was walking her children home from school on November 6 when the unthinkable happened. As she pushed her eight-month-old son, Marshall, in a pram, her eldest, Roman, walked a few paces ahead near the park.
Joanne noticed a dog and its owner in the distance but watched in horror as the animal's stance changed upon seeing Roman. The dog, believed to be a bull breed, growled and then launched itself at the little boy, dragging him to the ground.
"It all happened so fast," Joanne said. "I thought for sure this dog was about to kill my child. It was the most terrifying thing we've ever experienced."
The Terrifying Attack and Rescue
Joanne described how the aggressive dog, which was not on a lead or wearing a muzzle, latched onto Roman's face. Acting on pure instinct, she managed to pull her son by his legs from underneath the animal.
"I couldn't see his face when I pulled him from under the dog so I was scared it might have been ripped off," she recalled. "When I managed to drag him out and scooped him into my arms the left side of his head was covered in blood."
The attack left Roman with puncture wounds, a ripped ear, and injuries to his eye and cheeks. The traumatised child, in a state of shock, began screaming, 'I'm going to die, I'm going to die'.
Recovery and a Plea for Responsibility
Roman was rushed to hospital via ambulance, where he underwent surgery on his ear and to close wounds on his face. While the majority of his wounds were deemed superficial, concerns remain about his eye.
"Now the adrenaline is wearing off, I sometimes think I could be planning his funeral right now which is just horrific," Joanne shared. "This attack was 1000 per cent entirely preventable. Carelessness nearly cost our son's life."
South Yorkshire Police have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control. The dog was seized and remains in police kennels. The man has been released on bail as enquiries continue.
Inspector Steve Usher emphasised the importance of responsible ownership, stating: "This incident should never happen and could have been avoided by responsible ownership. If you are in an area with children who can act in excitable and unpredictable ways, there should be no reason a dog should be off its lead."
Joanne is now campaigning for greater safety measures and urging dog owners to be more vigilant. "You never think it will be your child," she said. "Life can change in the blink of an eye and we are so so grateful because this attack could have ended our child's life in an instant."
