Mother's Horror as Son, 5, Is Mauled by Off-Lead Dog
A five-year-old boy came within inches of being killed after being savagely attacked by a dog that was off its lead in a Doncaster park. Roman was walking with his mother, Joanne, near their home in Mexborough on Thursday when the terrifying incident unfolded.
The 28-year-old mother described how the dog, believed to be a bull breed, changed its stance before charging directly at her young son. Roman suffered significant injuries to his eye, ears, and cheeks during the brutal assault and required hospital surgery for his ear.
'It Was Going to Kill Him': The Terrifying Ordeal
"Roman didn't stand a chance. This big beefy thing just came and took him to the floor," Joanne recounted. "I was thinking 'it's going to kill him'. It got him by the face and wouldn't let him go."
She revealed the harrowing moment her son cried out, "I'm going to die," as the powerful animal, which she estimated was about four times the size of Roman, held him by the face. Joanne and the dog's owner, a 29-year-old man, eventually managed to pull the animal off the boy by grabbing its collar.
Passers-by rushed to help before emergency services, including armed police, arrived at the scene in the park off Schofield Street.
Life-Changing Injuries and a Call for Responsibility
Joanne now fears her son may be scarred for life and stated that if the bite had been any lower on his face, he would have died. "If the dog had gone a little bit further, he would have lost his eye," she added.
Despite the trauma, Joanne said she is "in awe" of her son, who has already been back to the park to play. However, the extent of his injuries means he will be kept home from school for a while longer.
She issued a powerful plea to dog owners: "It doesn't matter how soft you think your animal is. Keep your dog on a lead, especially in a place like this where there are kids."
South Yorkshire Police confirmed a 29-year-old man has been bailed on suspicion of owning a dog dangerously out of control. The dog remains in police kennels.
Inspector Steve Usher echoed the call for responsible ownership, stating: "This incident should never happen and could have been avoided. Any dog has the potential to cause injury."
