Ulster Gazette - News - Schoolboy mauled

News

Schoolboy mauled

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Schoolboy mauled thumbnail Armagh City U13 captain, Eoin Toal was attacked by a dog on Saturday evening in the vicinity of the Ulsterbus Station on Lonsdale Road. CG0515

AN aspiring young footballer has been reliving the terrifying moment when he was savagely attacked by a pit bull type dog in Armagh at the weekend.
Twelve-year-old Eoin Toal, who captains the Armagh City Under 13 team was mauled by a dog as he and four friends walked along Lonsdale Road, just before 7pm on Saturday.
Ironically, the attack on the young sporting fanatic happened just hours after Eoin and his teammates celebrated victory by winning the Northern Ireland Youth League.
The schoolboy from Ardmore Crescent was transferred to the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald yesterday (Monday), where he is due to undergo further treatment for the eight to nine inch wound on his leg.
Speaking to the Ulster Gazette just before he left Craigavon Area Hospital by ambulance, a brave Eoin recalled the frightening ordeal when the dog attacked.
“We were coming from Xtra-Vision going to Domino's when we saw a man who asked us for directions to the bus station.
“As we were explaining that the bus station was behind him, the dog just ran forward and started pulling at the flesh on my leg.
“My friend kicked the dog on the face to get it off me and I just kept screaming at the owner to get it off me.
“I didn't feel it at the time as my adrenaline was very high.
“My friends were crying. It was my friend's birthday and there were five of us staying over at his house so he ran to get his mum.
“I was very scared. I was crying and after I realised what had happened I rang my mum and dad."
Eoin's father Declan, who received the phone call from his son just minutes after the savage attack, said he did not realise the extent of his injuries until he arrived at the scene.
“He rang me just after it had happened asking me to come down. He said he had been bitten by a dog but I didn't expect it to be as bad until I arrived.
“The police were in attendance when I arrived and the policeman advised me not to look at his injuries.
“An ambulance rapid response vehicle had stopped and patched Eoin up until the ambulance arrived.
“When I saw the injuries I really didn't know what to think. He was mauled at the top of the leg about eight or nine inches above the knee.
“The dog grabbed him by the legs and instead of letting go, it just kept pulling round him. The wound is very close to the artery so he is very lucky.
“Eoin is very fit and active and is more worried about his football career than anything else.
“We have spent the whole weekend in hospital and he is going now to Dundonald to get a skin graph, so we have been told he could be in hospital for about a week.
“He is in a lot of pain but has managed to remain in great form. Even the policeman could not get over Eoin's courage.
“At the moment we are just very relieved that he is on the road to recovery.
“I would urge other children to be very wary. These types of dogs should be muzzled at all times.
“Our family would like to thank the emergency services and the police who were on the scene within minutes and looked after Eoin so well," added Mr Toal.
A PSNI spokesman confirmed the dog involved in the incident was seized and a man has been arrested.
Newry and Armagh DUP Assembly Member and Councillor William Irwin MLA expressed his shock at the attack on the schoolboy.
“This is an absolutely shocking incident and for it to occur in the city is a great worry for everyone. I hope the young boy makes a full recovery and that he will get over the trauma of this horrible attack."
“Pit bull type dogs have a reputation for attacking and certain varieties are illegal to own, I am relieved that the police have seized the animal in question.
“Hopefully the animal will now be destroyed so that no one else has to suffer needlessly and hopefully the new dog control legislation recently passed by Stormont will help in dealing with this attack," he added.