Boy died from blood loss after being bitten 'multiple' times by dog, inquest hears

Nine-year-old was savaged by bulldog-type breed after being left alone in caravan with animal

Frankie MacRitchie (Family handout)

A nine-year-old boy bled to death at a holiday camp after being bitten multiple times - many on the head - by a dog, an inquest has heard.

Frankie Macritchie, from Plymouth, was attacked by a "bulldog-type" breed while alone in a caravan at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall.

His mum was in an adjacent unit when the animal went for the youngster in the early hours of Saturday 13 April.

Police investigations are continuing into the cause of the incident and an inquest was opened and adjourned in Truro.

The coroner was told that the cause of death was exsanguination, also known as a fatal loss of blood, caused by "multiple dog bites to the head.”

Deputy coroner for Cornwall Andrew Cox adjourned the inquest to allow police investigations into the incident to continue.

The dog itself was put down this week, it was revealed.

The 28-year-old owner – a family friend – was arrested by police and held on suspicion of manslaughter and having a dog dangerously out of control. She has been released but remains under investigation.