Girl, 10, died from neck injuries after being attacked by XL Bully

A ten year old girl mauled to death in her family's caravan by a XL Bully died from neck injuries, an inquest heard today.

Savannah Bentham is set to be laid to rest after the inquest was opened and adjourned today when the post mortem results were revealed for the first time.

The hearing was told that schoolgirl Savannah's life was cut tragically short on November 1 and her remains were identified on November 5 by a grandmother.

No members of the family attended the five minute hearing at Northallerton Coroner's Court in North Yorkshire where the inquest was adjourned until a date to be fixed.

Assistant North Yorkshire Coroner Alison Norton gave Savannah's address as AF Rayspeed, a scooter dealership just outside the village of East Heslerton, between Scarborough's and Malton.

She continued: 'She died on November 1 at that address. On November 1 by a dog at her home address and sustained fatal injuries. The cause of death was neck injuries.

'She was identified by her grand mother on November 5.'

The coroner then adjourned the hearing until a date and time to be fixed. Giving the formal record of identification, she added that Savannah was a school girl.

Tributes poured in for the 'model student' earlier this month, with her heartbroken family describing her as their 'wonderful girl who we love so much'.

In a statement via North Yorkshire Police, Savannah's family said they were 'utterly shocked' and 'devastated', adding: 'We can't believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.' 

They continued: 'We thank everyone for their support and kindness as we struggle to come to terms with our loss. We ask that our family's privacy is respected while we grieve for Savannah.' 

Previously it was revealed that Savannah and her family lived in a static caravan in a compound behind the scooter dealers.

Read More

EXCLUSIVE
Girl mauled to death by own 'XL Bully' dog had a 'loving relationship' with it and boasted to pals

North Yorkshire Police said the girl had a 'close, loving relationship' with the dog that went on to kill her. The force said the dog would be put down.

It was also claimed that she reportedly boasted to her pals, saying: 'I have got a new pet - an XL bully'.

People at a nearby caravan site were alerted by the screams of the girl's traumatised mother at around 4.15pm on Friday.

One local farmer, who asked not to be named, said: 'The dog is an XL bully. It has been certified and is well looked after. It's a very big dog. I've seen it around the pub a few times, it doesn't bother anyone or other dogs and is well-behaved.'

Describing the incident, the farmer said: 'The mother ran out from the static caravan screaming 'my baby's dead.' Some people from the caravan site went over to help. She was obviously really distraught.

'The police got here very fast, there were two helicopters, ambulances turned up and an armed response unit. Someone put the dog in a car apparently.

'They are really nice people. The girl is a really polite girl who always says please and thank you. She was a lovely little lass who you would see riding her bike around.'

Read More

BREAKING NEWS
Girl, 10, dies after being bitten by her family dog, police say

Caravan site manager Samantha Robinson also said: 'The static caravan moved here about four months ago.

'This little girl said she had a new pet, an American XL bully. She was a lovely little girl, she asked permission to play on the swings in the park and we gave it.'

Ownership of American Bully XL dogs is restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Since the start of this year it has been against the law to sell, give away, abandon or breed an XL bully.

Since February 1 it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully without an exemption certificate.

When this ban was introduced a government press release stated there had been 23 fatal dog attacks since the start of 2021 with the XL bully 'being involved in many of these tragic attacks'.

The Office for National Statistics does not break down attacks according to breed.