Boy, 8, savaged by ‘XL Bully’ in horror attack when it bit his head in corridor of Bootle flats – as cops arrest two

A SCHOOLBOY has been rushed to hospital with serious head wounds after being attacked by an “XL Bully”.

Cops have arrested a man and a woman after the horror attack in Bootle, Merseyside, yesterday.

It’s thought the boy, eight, was mauled by the dog in the communal areas of flats near Wadham Road. 

He was rushed to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

A woman, 49, and a man, 30, have been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury.

They are not related to the child who is injured.

Detective Inspector Gary Stratton, in a statement, said: “This was a horrific attack which has left a young child requiring emergency surgery for injuries to his head.

“I want to reassure people that he is receiving the best possible care and treatment for his injuries, which are described as life-changing.

“‘We have seized the dog and extensive efforts are underway to establish exactly what happened.

“I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, who may have information, to come forward as soon as possible.

“This case highlights in the starkest terms the potential dangers of dogs, and I would appeal to anyone with information about dangerous dogs in their area to contact us so that we can take pro-active action.”

The attack comes just days after a ban on XL Bully type dogs came into force.

And last week a gran who was mauled to death by two “XL Bullys”.

Esther Martin, 68, was visiting for the weekend to see her grandson, 11, when the vicious hounds snapped.