A 13-year-old girl was seriously injured after she was attacked by the family dog in her home.

The teenager suffered severe wounds to her neck and thoat and bites on her arms and legs, and had to be stabilised by ambulance staff before she was taken to hospital.

A paramedic manager and ambulance were sent to the scene in Vega Close, Colchester, at about 2pm on Friday.

Paramedic manager John Nicholls said: "The girl had been attacked by a bull mastiff, which was said to be the family dog.

"She suffered severe wounds to her neck and throat as well as multiple bites to her arms and legs. "When we arrived, she was drifting in and out of consciousness.

He added: "We stabilised her condition at the scene and administered fluids before rushing her to Colchester General Hospital. Medics had been alerted and were waiting to continue treating her."

On Friday afternoon, the girl's condition was believed to be serious but not life-threatening. The dog was understood to have been destroyed later.

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Published Monday, November 14, 2005

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