Neighbours thought boy, 12, was dead after being savaged by dog on street

23 October 2023 , 14:54

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Mohid Gardazee, 12, is in hospital after he was mauled by a dog in the street (Image: Ahmad Gardazee / SWNS)

A 12-year-old schoolboy who neighbours feared had been killed when he was attacked by a dog survived - but may need skin grafts .

Mohid Gardazee, 12, is at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital today with his family at his bedside after he suffered 'life-changing' injuries in the attack in Oldham, Greater Manchester on Sunday.

His father has said he rushed outside to hear people saying Mohid had died in the attack - and spent agonising moments waiting to see his son behind a police cordon as officers attempted to catch the dog.

Police announced on Monday that 43-year-old Paula Jenkins had been charged with two counts of possession of a dangerously out of control dog in connection with the incident.

The boy's dad said he had surgery for three hours in hospital on Sunday evening to clean and stitch his wounds (Ahmad Gardazee / SWNS)

Mohid has been told he may need to have skin grafts if not all of his wounds can be stitched (UGC/MEN/FAMILY)

A 31-year-old woman was also hurt, though her injuries are not though to be serious. The dog - suspected to be an XL Bully - has been "safely detained", though the breed has not yet been confirmed. Police enquiries are said to be ongoing. Dad Ahmad Gardazee, 52, said Mohid had surgery for three hours in hospital on Sunday evening to clean and stitch his wounds, but there was extensive swelling. The schoolboy, who is a pupil at The Hathershaw College and has a brother and sister, suffered extensive bite injuries to his right arm and wrist, he said, as well as bruising to his body. Ahmad told Manchester Evening News: "They tried to stitch it but there was swelling. They are going to open it again and try to re-do it. If they cannot do it, they are going to go for a skin graft. He came back to consciousness last night and he is talking now. His spirits are okay."

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

When dad-of-three Ahmad first rushed to the street on Sunday, he heard shocking rumours that Mohid may have succumbed to his injuries. The accountant said: “People were saying the boy was dead. But luckily, luckily he survived. It was traumatic. It was really hard for me to kind of keep calm. I was thinking, ‘It could be my fault’. All those things go through your mind – how is he going to do in the future with his right arm? My wife was crying, my daughter was crying. But we are very thankful to our neighbours who called the police and the ambulance. When we knew he was alive, we relaxed.”

A statement from Greater Manchester Police on social media today read: "Paula Jenkins of Meldrum Street has been charged with two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. She has been bailed to appear at Tameside Magistrates on Thursday 2 November. These charges are in connection with an incident which took place on Villa Road, Oldham yesterday (Sunday 22 October)."

In an earlier statement on Sunday, the force said: "At 11.23am this morning (Sunday 22 October) Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of a dog attack on Villa Road, Oldham. Emergency services attended and a 12-year-old boy was taken to hospital with serious injuries, believed to be life-changing. A 31-year-old woman also received injuries, which are not thought to be life-changing/threatening. Armed response vehicles and GMP Dog Unit were deployed, and the dog has been safely detained."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas