Baby Dies in 'Sudden and Unanticipated' Dog Attack

 Baby Dies in 'Sudden and Unanticipated' Dog Attack

A seven-month-old baby girl, Elle Doherty, tragically died after being attacked by her family's pet dog, a 31kg Belgian Malinois, at their home in Coundon on 16 June.

An inquest at Coventry Coroner's Court heard that Elle suffered a "catastrophic" head injury during the attack, which occurred "suddenly and without warning." The coroner, Delroy Henry, concluded that the incident lasted "less than a second," as the dog, named Zeus, was immediately restrained by her parents.

Elle sustained skull fractures and went into cardiac arrest. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she was pronounced dead an hour later.

The attack, captured on the family’s indoor security camera, showed the parents’ swift and desperate attempts to protect their daughter. Det Insp Anthony Hibbert told the court that the footage suggested the baby might have leaned on the dog, prompting the attack. Both parents immediately intervened, pulling Zeus away and tending to Elle.

In a written statement, Elle's father described Zeus as a pet acquired from a Gloucestershire breeder in 2020, noting the dog had been "good around people and other dogs" before the incident.

After the attack, a dog handler was called to the scene. Zeus was sedated, removed from the property, and euthanized the same day.

Coroner Delroy Henry described the incident as a "tragic event" that forever changed the family’s lives. "My heart goes out to Elle's parents and family," he said, expressing condolences on behalf of the court.

Elle's parents chose not to attend the inquest, a decision the coroner called "wholly understandable" given their grief.