Cornwall dog attack: Nine-year-old Frankie Macritchie ‘alone in caravan when mauled to death’

Frankie Macritchie was alone with bulldog-type animal when tragedy occurred, police reveal

Tencreek Holiday Park near the coastal town of Looe in Cornwall (Google)

The young boy killed in a dog attack at a Cornwall holiday park has been named as nine-year-old Frankie Macritchie, from Plymouth.

The child is believed to have been alone in a static caravan with the bulldog-type animal when it mauled him in the early hours of Saturday morning, Devon and Cornwall Police revealed.

The adults he was on holiday with were with friends in an adjacent unit at the time, officers said on Sunday. The attack took place at Tencreek Holiday Park in the town of Looe.

The details come just hours after the dog’s 28-year-old owner was released by officers, pending investigations. She had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and having a dog dangerously out of control. The animal remains in kennels.

Detective Superintendent Mike West said: “We believe that Frankie was alone in a caravan with the dog as he was attacked, whilst that the adults that he was on holiday with, were in an adjacent unit. These two groups of people were all known to each other and all from the Plymouth area.”

Mr West added: “This is a desperately sad event which has seen a nine-year-old boy lose his life whilst on holiday. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the loved ones of Frankie and all of those who knew him.

“I also wish to recognise those who came to his aid at the scene; members of the public and emergency services staff who had to work in deeply upsetting conditions.”

He added that detectives were still trying to establish the exact circumstances around the attack.

Police were called to the caravan at 5am, with the boy declared dead at the scene. Officers launched an immediate search for the dog owner and located her in nearby Saltash, about three hours later, where she was arrested.

Mr West added: “We appreciate that this case will shock and upset the public, however, we urge the public not to apportion blame on this tragic incident, and to allow us to do our job and to fully investigate this matter.

“Please do not speculate via social media. There is a good chance that this will be seen by those who knew and loved Frankie and speculation will only lead to further upset.”

Henry Joce, a spokesperson for Tencreek Holiday Park, said: “It is with profound sadness that management can confirm that emergency services were called to an incident in a static caravan just before 5am on Saturday 13 April.

“Tragically, a nine-year-old child was pronounced deceased at the scene after being attacked by a dog present in the same caravan.

“Clearly our thoughts are very much with the family involved – they have our deepest sympathies.

“Tencreek Holiday Park staff are to be commended in the way they have dealt with a very distressing incident.”

On Sunday, the park remained open for business, although several holidaymakers were reported to have curtailed their breaks and left the facility early.

Additional reporting by PA