Boy, 10, is mauled by out-of-control dog as he plays football outside home

15 September 2023 , 08:32

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A 10-year-old boy has been filmed as he was mauled by a dog outside his home, while his family desperately tried to free him.

Mohammed Sami Raza was playing football on the front drive of his house in Walsall before the out-of-control dog leapt on him and locked on during a two-minute ordeal. It is one of a spate of attacks this week, particularly involving XL Bully dogs, amid calls for the breed to be banned.

The horror was captured on CCTV and shows the youngster screaming out in pain and calling for help as the harrowing attack went on. West Midlands Police said the dog had been put down while a 60-year-old woman was arrested and released with a caution.

Gohar Siddique, the boy's father, shared the clip because he wanted to raise awareness. While the breed of the dog in the video is unknown, he urged owners to keep their pets locked up. The 36-year-old factory worker said: "I just want to make sure this doesn't happen to other people. This should not be happening to young children."

In the video, the schoolboy is seen kicking a football towards his house before the animal appears from nowhere and leaps on him. The youngster, wearing a red t-shirt and shorts, is knocked to the ground as the dog clamps down on his arm.

Girl, 4, mauled to death in dog attack pictured as neighbours hear mum's screams

The dog attacked the boy while he was playing in the driveway (Courtesy Gohar Siddique / SWNS)

The sustained attack - which left the child with injuries to his arms and legs - lasted for more than 30 seconds before help arrived. Two women rushed to the child's aid but the dog's strength meant it took a while longer to prise it away.

One of the adults waved down a taxi for help before three rescuers finally freed the child from the animal's grasp. Two women and a man could be seen hitting the animal with a toy gun and other objects before it finally released its grip and ran away. Mohammed was rushed to Walsall Manor Hospital where he is still receiving treatment for his injuries and awaiting surgery.

The dog locked onto the boy and wouldn't let go (Courtesy Gohar Siddique / SWNS)

Mr Siddique - who was at work when he was told what had happened - said: "You just never expect this to happen to your own child. He was just playing football in the street. He has very bad injuries and is still awaiting surgery now. He is being very brave but it has been traumatic for the family. It was terrifying.

"I just want to make sure this doesn't happen to other people. This should not be happening to young children and its happened three times in our region this week. If it were my two-year-old son was outside he would not be alive. If nobody had noticed this attack when they did then maybe Mohammed would be too.

People pictured trying to free the youngster (Courtesy Gohar Siddique / SWNS)

"It was just relentless. The dog would not let go. It was only when the passing taxi driver smacked it really hard that it finally stopped. He must have been terrified. Its hard to watch the video but I just want to make others aware. These dog attacks are happening far too often.

"People need to make sure they have big dogs locked away. These can be dangerous animals in the wrong hands. I was at work at the time it happened. Its a call no father wants to get. Children should be able to play safely. This should not be happening to our kids." He added that if it had been his two-year-old son who had been outside "he would not be alive".

Mohammed Sami Raza pictured with his dad Gohar Siddique (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We were called to Bentley Drive in Walsall on Wednesday, September 13, to reports of a disorder and that a child had been bitten by a dog. The ten-year-old was taken to hospital to be treated for bite marks on his arm.

"The dog was seized from the location. We believe the dog managed to get out of its address without the owner knowing. On Thursday, September 14, we arrested a woman in her sixties on suspicion of possession of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. She has since been released with a caution and has given up the dog to be humanely destroyed."

Mohammed in hospital after the attack (Courtesy Gohar Siddique / SWNS)

Mohammed suffered injuries to his arms and legs (Courtesy Gohar Siddique / SWNS)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for XL Bully dogs to be banned following an attack on a busy shopping street in Birmingham that led to an 11-year-old girl and two men being rushed to hospital. She called the attack "appalling" and commissioned "urgent advice" on whether the canines could be outlawed.

A Defra spokesman said: "We take dog attacks and anti-social behaviour very seriously and are making sure the full force of the law is being applied. This can range from lower-level community protection notices - which require dog owners to take appropriate action to address behaviour - to more serious offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act, where people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership or result in dangerous dogs being euthanised."