Toddler dies after frenzied pit bull attack in Pietermaritzburg

On Monday, members of the SAPS K9 Unit rushed to Havenview Road in Glenwood, Pietermaritzburg after frantic residents called for help saying that two pit bulls were killing a little child, Capital Newspapers reports.

On arrival the police officers, Sergeants Ismail and Marais found two large pit bull terriers at the scene.

As they intervened the pit bull attacked the policemen who were then forced to shoot the dogs. Even while injured after being shot the crazed animals kept coming towards the policemen.

Warrant Officer Sheik then fired rounds to put the animals down.

The child had suffered extensive wounds to his head, face, neck and arms.

Christelle van der Merwe told Capital Newspapers that the family had prayed her three-year-old son Christopher would pull through but that her “precious boy” died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, just minutes before he was due to go into theatre for an emergency operation.

Christopher was attacked while waiting to be fetched from the home of a family friend, where his transport dropped him off.

“They called me to the house and ambulance and emergency services were already on the scene and paramedics were frantically reviving him. I was told he was walking with my friend to the house. She was about to pick him up when the dogs pounced on Christopher. They tried to fight the dogs off but were unable to and called emergency services”.

The attack has renewed calls for the government to take action against the growing public safety concerns regarding vicious dogs, particularly pit bull terriers that have been linked to several recent attacks on people.

The paramedics managed to revive the toddler and then rushed him to Grey’s Hospital in a critical condition.

“We were at the hospital since the afternoon. The doctors were doing the best that they could. They were preparing him for theatre and a CT scan and that is when he died at 1:30am. My little boy put up a very brave fight,” said Christelle sobbing as she recounted the ordeal.

Christopher’s dad Carl van der Merwe said that he took comfort that his son called and asked for him just before he died.

“He told the nurse that he wanted to see me. I went to him and held his hand and that helped calm him. He is gone to be with the Lord and that is what I take comfort in,” said the father.

Police have opened charges against the owners of the pit bulls and investigations are continuing.