Dad who saw girl, 5, mauled by dog outside corner shop says 'her face was gone'

14 August 2023 , 13:58

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A dad stamped on a vicious dog after it mauled his five-year-old daughter, biting a huge chunk out of her cheek.

Alex Nichol, 30, booted the Pocket Bully after it pounced on little Farrah-Leigh outside a Nisa shop in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside, on Saturday afternoon, after he'd given the youngster permission to pet the animal.

He described how his daughter gently stroked the dog as they waited to cross the road when it lunged and "all her face was off". He added: "Her face was gone. It was just gruesome." Alex then lashed out at the animal, which has since been destroyed. He said: "I booted it. I stamped on it." He then gathered up Farrah-Leigh and took her home before she was rushed to hospital.

The Mirror has obtained photos of her injuries as she continues to recover having received a skin graft and stitches, with Alex and mum Danielle Nichol, 32, by her bedside. They labelled their daughter “beautiful, amazing and bubbly”, and said the ordeal is a "horrific nightmare".

Alex, who lives close to where the attack happened outside a branch on Norton Road, said: "We had gone to the shop together and she had paid for some bread at the till. We came out and I pressed the button to cross the road and she said, 'Can I stroke that dog?'

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Dad who saw girl, 5, mauled by dog outside corner shop says 'her face was gone'

Alex Nichol whose daugher Farrah-Leigh 5 had her face savaged by a dog (North News & Pictures northnews.co.uk)

"I said, 'Yes, but you will have to ask the man first.' She said, 'Can I stroke your dog?' And he said, 'Yes, no problem.' She went to stroke the dog on the head. She loves dogs. She was stroking it really gently. The dog jumped and she jumped back and I thought, that was lucky. But then the next minute I saw her curled up on the floor and she said, 'Dad'. She was crying and all her face was off. Her face was gone. It was just gruesome."

Alex then rushed over to his daughter who was still in dangerously close proximity to the animal. He added: "I ran across to get her but the dog was right behind her. I booted it. I stamped on it. I picked my daughter up and went back to the house. She was taken to hospital and she is stable and she has had stitches. But there's still so much to do."

Farrah-Leigh suffered severe facial injuries

The girl is due for a second op on Tuesday

The Pocket Bully, which is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier and a Patterdale Terrier, lived just down the road from the home Farrah-Leigh shares with her parents.

In the wake of a spate of recent dog attacks on children, Alex now believes all breeds should be muzzled. He said: "We have three dogs ourselves. We have a Staffie and two XL Bullies. But I would be happy to muzzle them. If all dogs were muzzled it would just take away the risk. If it saved one child it would be worth it. Always be wary of dogs you don't know. My daughter loved dogs, but this incident has obviously given her a full fear factor. We're all still in shock at the moment. We can't believe this has happened."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money to send Farrah-Leigh to DisneyLand with her family once she is well enough. Shauna Lee Rollinson, 26, who created the page, said: "Farrah-Leigh is in my little girl's class at school. She tells my daughter all the time how she'd love to go to Disney Land. If we can make this happen for this gorgeous girl I will cry my eyes out. The support so far has been outstanding."

Farrah-Leigh's parents described the ordeal as a 'nightmare' (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

Farrah-Leigh in hospital (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

Kirsty Lavender, 32, a family friend, who is helping raise funds, told The Mirror: “She’s beautiful, funny, bubbly, polite, just an all-round amazing child. We are all hoping this doesn’t take her personality and confidence away.” The “kind” tot is due for a second operation on Tuesday morning. “She was making mum and dad food yesterday in the little play kitchen when she came back from her operation so fingers crossed she bounces back after this,” Kirsty said.

“She had one operation yesterday and she’s got to go down again Tuesday morning and then wait two weeks and have another operation. Her mum and dad are a little bit lost. We are doing everything we can to make it easier on the family.”

The Pocket Bully that attacked Farrah-Leigh (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)

In a video posted to Facebook by Alex, Farrah-Leigh is seen playing in a toy kitchen at the hospital following surgery, as her parents watch over her. Alex can be heard saying: "I love you so much." In his post, he added: "HEART'S IN PAIN...made mine and mam's tea. What a little fighter you are baby girl."

Following the attack, a spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: "The girl has suffered significant injuries to her face and is receiving treatment in hospital. The owner of the dog remained at the scene following the attack and co-operated with police. The dog has been seized. We would politely ask people not to post photos relating to the incident and to avoid speculating on social media whilst officers continue with their investigation."

To donate to Farrah-Leigh's fundraiser click here.