Northern Ireland

Three-year-old treated in hospital after bitten by dog in Co Derry

The Air Ambulance was tasked to Garvagh in Co Derry at the weekend after a child suffered facial injuries caused by a dog
The Air Ambulance was tasked to Garvagh in Co Derry at the weekend after a child suffered facial injuries caused by a dog The Air Ambulance was tasked to Garvagh in Co Derry at the weekend after a child suffered facial injuries caused by a dog

A three-year-old girl has been treated in hospital for facial injuries after being bitten by a dog in Co Derry.

The incident happened in the Drumeen Drive area of Garvagh on Sunday and the toddler was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) for Children in Belfast.

It is understood the dog was a family-owned pet and that the child was bitten on the face.

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 2.11pm on Sunday.

An emergency crew and the Air Ambulance were tasked to the scene.

After assessment and initial treatment the child was

taken by road to the RVH.

A spokeswoman for Causeway Coast and Glens council said: "Council is aware of an incident Sunday April 26 involving a young child and a family pet which resulted in hospital admission of the child.

“As a result, the family has had the animal humanely destroyed.

“Council would wish to send its best wishes to the child and family involved and hopes that a full and speedy recovery can be made following such a traumatic experience."

DUP councillor Adrian McQuillan knows the victim's family.

“Whatever support the family needs I will be there to try and help them through it,” he said.

A spokesman for the PSNI said it had received “no reports of the incident”.