A shocked mum walked into a room to find a feral rat attacking her toddler, a scene she likened to something from 'a horror movie'. The young boy was rushed straight to hospital after being bitten on the face by the rodent while he was in bed.
The mum, who did not want to be identified or identify her children, told the Liverpool Echo she believes there is a major rat problem in parts of the city. She was feeding her newborn baby when she stumbled across the horrifying scene.
She said: "It was like something from a nightmare or a horror movie, I am still traumatised by it all. I heard my two-year-old son crying from his bed and when I walked in he was covered in blood. I fell to my knees in shock, I had no idea what had happened until I saw the rat run past me. My four-year-old saw it all with me and has been having nightmares ever since."
A note from Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in Liverpool, detailed the horrific injuries: "Multiple rat bites from feral rat this morning while sleeping at home address. Patient referred to plastic surgeons and infection diseases in Alder Hey."
Thankfully the child is now recovering from his injuries. He did not require plastic surgery and is clear of any potential diseases. Since the horrendous attack, the mum and her kids have moved in with family and are now looking for a new place to live. Their home in Walton was clean and tidy on the inside but rat issues in the area and the poor quality of housing has led to problems.
The mum said: "We just can't go back there. Since the attack we have heard other rats running around, we can't live there. Something needs to be done because I really don't want this to happen to another family."
She raised the terrifying incident with her local MP Dan Carden, who described it as one of the most horrific things he has heard during his time as a Member of Parliament. Mr Carden's office escalated the case to Liverpool City Council for an urgent pest control visit and the MP met with the family earlier this week.
He said: "The family are traumatised. It is unthinkable that this has happened. They live in a clean and pleasant home, but the area is blighted by vermin. No one should have to worry about rats in their home, but that is the reality for too many of my constituents. The extent of vermin problems in large parts of the city is a public health crisis.
"There must now be a collective effort to address the problem. I am calling on water companies and the council to prioritise tackling rat infestations. That means baiting the city's drains and increasing the pest control workforce. It also means investment from government to help address long-standing structural issues."
The Echo understands the council attended the property and spotted an issue with the drains which were baited along with the nearby alleyway. The council said it baits around 6-700 streets in the city each year and has seen a steady decline in vermin reports thanks to the introduction of gated alleyways and euro bins. The hope is that the forthcoming rollout of underground super-bins will continue to tackle the issue.
