Dog attack: victim named

The one-year-old victim of a fatal Rottweiler attack in Wakefield has been named by West Yorkshire Police.Archie-Lee Andrew Hirst, who celebrated his first birthday in November, was snatched from the arms of a seven-year-old girl who was carrying him at into the garden on Friday afternoon.At the time of the attack the boy's parents were out nearby and he was being looked after by his 16-year-old aunt, together with a seven-year-old girl and another girl, aged six.The girl had gone to the kitchen door to stroke the animal when the dog attacked without warning.The aunt, who had been upstairs, was unable to rescue her nephew, despite striking the dog, and called emergency services, who found the boy lying in the yard.He suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pinderfields General Infirmary, but died later in the evening.Armed police officers destroyed the dog, a two-and-a-half year-old female Rottweiler, at the scene."Our thoughts go out to the family at this tragic time," said Detective Superintendent Steve Payne."They are understandably devastated by what has happened and are being supported by specially trained officers."The attack came almost a year after five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death by a family pit-bull terrier at her grandmother's house on January 1.Her uncle Kiel Simpson was jailed for eight weeks for owning a banned breed of dog.Rottweilers are not banned by the Dangerous Dogs Act, but the legislation covers any dog out of control in a public place.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | December 29, 2007

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