Grandmother and boy left "traumatised" after St Ives dog attack

Devon and Cornwall police are investigating the attack at a St Ives Holiday Park last week

Holiday park in St Ives
Author: Megan PricePublished 21st Feb 2023

Police are investigating a dog attack which left a grandmother and her 12-year-old grandson with bite injuries and treated in hospital.

Cheryl May, from Cornwall, and her grandson Zac were at a St Ives Holiday Park, when the incident happened at around 9.10pm on Wednesday 15 February.

"At least we're alive"

Cheryl told us: "It was awful. It was horrible, we just came out the clubhouse on to the road. We saw the dog and it went straight for Zac, it bit Zac and then he started to run away screaming".

Cheryl explained that her daughter Natalie, who wasn't severely injured, has been left aching after trying to fight the dog off of Zac.

"She covered herself, she kept lifting the dog and he kept going after him. I heard her saying 'help, help, help!' I hit it with the stick, and it charged towards me. He latched on to me, and I told her to run.

"Both my arms are badly bitten. I've got bandages from my wrists to my elbow and a massive bruise".

The attack, from what she described as a British Bull Terrier, has made herself and the family feel shaken up almost one week on.

She added: "The ladies that were there, they were amazing. Looking after the grandchildren and me, she was worried that I'd go into shock. And Zac too, he was all pale.

"It's traumatised me quite a lot, I just can't get that out of my head. I say to my husband, I ask him to stay with me. I can't be without him at the moment.

"I just can't sleep at night"

"Thank god we got away with it, they (the injuries) were bad, but we're alive".

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement:

"Police were called at about 9.10 pm on Wednesday, February 15, to a holiday park in St Ives to reports of two people having been bitten by a dog.

"Officers attended. Two people had sustained bite injuries and attended hospital for treatment.

"Enquiries are ongoing".

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.