Moment brave mother shields her toddler from 'XL Bully' attack as owner, 29, is charged with owning a dangerous dog

  • Reading time:8 min(s) read

  • The child was attacked in south-east London at around 10am on Monday
  • Have YOU witnesses a dog attack? Email tips@dailymail.com

A brave young mother protected her 20-month-old child from an XL Bully after the youngster was attacked by the dog, new pictures show.

The child, who she says had blood pouring from his leg, was airlifted to hospital but luckily his injuries are not thought life-threatening nor life-changing.

Thomas Ackah, 29, the dog’s owner was arrested at the scene and charged with being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

One witness described her horror at hearing ‘screams’ outside her home and running outside to find a powerful dog attacking the toddler – who was with his mother – outside the Doubletree by Hilton in Greenwich, London, yesterday morning. 

The dog has been taken to kennels and police say tests are being carried out to confirm the breed – but it is understood to be an XL Bully, which is to be banned from the UK after a spate of attacks.

The owner of the dog tried to calm it down, as shown in these pictures obtained by MailOnline, while the mother can be seen shielding her child

The owner of the dog tried to calm it down, as shown in these pictures obtained by MailOnline, while the mother can be seen shielding her child

The mother cradles the youngster after the attack as the man tries to control the dog

The mother cradles the youngster after the attack as the man tries to control the dog 

Thomas Ackah, 29, the dog’s owner was arrested at the scene and charged with being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog

The terrifying incident, which took place in Catherine Grove at around 10.10am on Monday morning, saw the child's screams pierce the air, according to one eye-witness

The terrifying incident, which took place in Catherine Grove at around 10.10am on Monday morning, saw the child’s screams pierce the air, according to one eye-witness

Police were called to Catherine Grove (pictured) in Greenwich on Monday morning after a child was attacked by a dog

Police were called to Catherine Grove (pictured) in Greenwich on Monday morning after a child was attacked by a dog

The terrifying incident, which took place in Catherine Grove at around 10.10am on Monday morning, saw the child’s screams pierce the air, according to one eye-witness.

READ MORE: I love my XL Bully dog – owners should go out and prove how good they can be by walking them with pride 

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She said: ‘I heard these screams – which lasted quite a while – and so I went outside to see what was going on.

‘There was a large group of people on the road outside the hotel. As I got nearer I could see a young boy crying and being comforted.

‘His mother was by his side in shock. She was shaking and asking people ‘is he going to be ok? Is he going to be all right?’

‘The boy had a bite mark on his lower left buttock above his thigh and blood was pouring down his leg. I couldn’t see any other bites on him.

‘A staff member at the Hilton had brought out a first aid kit. I’ve got medical experience and I’ve worked in paediatrics so offered to help.

‘An ambulance had already been called. I spoke briefly to the mum. I haven’t seen her before locally, she was in Indian lady. I think she may well have been a guest at the hotel or had been to visit someone there.

‘She was just in a complete daze and I did all I could to reassure her. She went with the boy inside the hotel and the ambulance arrived soon afterwards.’

A nearby resident told MailOnline: ‘The first I knew something had happened was when I heard a woman screaming, screaming like I’ve never heard before.

‘I opened the door and walked down the steps to my front gate and could see that a crowd of people were coming out of the Hilton Hotel across the road from me.

Have you seen a dog attack? Email tips@dailymail.com

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‘The attack was taking place in the road outside and I could see that people wanted to get involved and to help but they were reluctant to get close.

‘At this point I couldn’t hear a dog barking or snarling or anything like that and I thought maybe there were people fighting with knives.

‘There was a tree and shrubbery blocking my view of what was going on but it became clear that a dog had attacked a young child and it the mother who I’d heard screaming.

‘The owner of the dog was carrying a mop and bucket – he’d obviously just come from the shops – and was walking away from the scene with the animal.

‘A few men from the hotel followed him around the road and then the police arrived. The police leapt out and arrested the man. He was put in the back of a van with his dog and taken away.

‘Meanwhile an ambulance had arrived and the toddler was carried on board. I’m so glad and relieved the child is going to be alright.

‘I can’t say if the dog owner had the animal on a lead, I didn’t see one and I suspect not because he was carrying a load of awkward stuff from the shop.’

The woman said the owner of the dog was arrested just outside her house.

She added: ‘When I’d got to the scene, there was a dog nearby – it looked like an XL bully or at least some sort of pit bull – which was being restrained by the owner.

‘He was trying to walk off – he wasn’t running away or anything but there were people shouting at him to stay put.

‘This man continued to walk away with his dog for about 30-seconds or so and then the police arrived and stopped him.

‘The officers spoke to him at length and then gave him the chance to say goodbye to his dog before it was taken away.

‘His dog was muzzled and taken off into a van. As soon as the dog was gone, the man was handcuffed and put into another police van and taken away.’

Another local Nick Peter told how he tried to help the stricken child.

He said: ‘As some of you may have heard, at about 10:10 today a Bully dog attacked a 20 month old child outside the Hilton on Catherine Grove. I was first on the scene – thank you to all those who helped.

New NHS data has revealed that there was a record number of dog attacks in the UK last year. Pictured: American XL Bully dog. The breed will be banned in the UK by the end of the year

New NHS data has revealed that there was a record number of dog attacks in the UK last year. Pictured: American XL Bully dog. The breed will be banned in the UK by the end of the year

‘The child is ok, was taken to hospital by ambulance, owner arrested, the dog has been seized. Police have lots of CCTV and statements.

‘Thanks again to all who helped. Not trying to scaremonger but do take care if you see those dogs – especially those with children.’

The attack comes after Rishi Sunak vowed to ban XL Bully dogs following a spate of attacks, including the deaths of children, that involved the breed.

READ MORE HERE:  American Bulldog nearly tore off my ARM! Dog-walker suffers life-changing injuries after savage beast sunk its fangs into her flesh and refused to let go 

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A dog walker was mauled to death by an XL Bully in Sunderland on Tuesday.

Ian Langley, 54, was set upon on the estate in Sunderland on Tuesday by an enormous brown and white XL Bully which grabbed him by the neck as he tried to save his Patterdale terrier pup.

The dog is said to have ‘torn out the throat’ of Mr Langley, who was left needing CPR for around 15 minutes as emergency services fought to staunch heavy bleeding from his wounds. The 54-year-old father tragically succumbed to his injuries. His dog survived.

According to NHS data there were a record 9,424 hospital admissions from dog attacks for 2022, a number that has risen by a third in a decade.

The XL Bully has been behind the majority of fatal dog attacks in the UK since 2021, being responsible for ten out of 14 of the fatal attacks.

While the ban has been welcomed by many, XL Bully owners have reacted angrily and rushed to defend their dogs.

If you have witnesses a dog attack, please email us at tips@dailymail.com





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