A little girl who was attacked and killed by her family's pet dog died from a head trauma.
An inquest was opened and adjourned into the death of 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch after the tragic incident at the family home in St Helens last month. Police and the ambulance service were called to Bidston Avenue at 3.49pm on Monday, March 21, after a report that a child had been "seriously injured."
Despite medical treatment, Bella-Rae Birch was declared dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital at 4.45pm the same day. A post-mortem examination subsequently established the cause of death as "head trauma."
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Police reported Bella-Rae's family had bought the dog just a week before the attack. The dog was humanely destroyed following the horrific incident. Tests confirmed that the animal involved was an American Bully XL, a legal breed not subject to any prohibitions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
People across St Helens and the wider community sent messages of support and expressed their shock after the tragedy.
Treysharn Bates, the mum of Bella-Rae, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her daughter's funeral. It currently stands at over £5,500.
The family issued a tribute to Bella-Rae through Merseyside police, and said: "As a family we would like to thank the community for their support. We would ask that we are now allowed some space and time to try and come to terms with the tragic loss of our much-loved Bella-Rae. She will be sadly missed but never forgotten."
Earlier this week, a vigil and balloon release was held in St Helens town centre in memory of the toddler.
