Girl mauled by fox leaves hospital

A baby girl mauled by a fox as she slept has been discharged from hospital, it was announced today.

Nine-month-old Lola Koupparis will continue her recuperation at home, the Royal London Hospital said.

She and her twin sister Isabella were found crying and covered in blood after the fox went into their upstairs bedroom and attacked them in their cots in Hackney, east London, on Saturday night.

A hospital spokesman said: "The family remain grateful for the many messages of goodwill they've received and continue to ask that their privacy and that of their family and friends be respected at this time."

Isabella was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on Monday night for further treatment. Tonight Barts and The London NHS Trust said Isabella had returned to The Royal London Children's Hospital to continue her treatment.

A statement said: "Following a period at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Isabella Koupparis, one of the twin nine-month-old girls being treated for injuries sustained during a fox attack in her home, has returned to The Royal London Children's Hospital to continue her treatment."

Family members have reportedly said the fox attack could be "life-changing" for the twins.

Their mother discovered the tots looking "like something from a horror movie" after the mauling and described it as "like a living nightmare".

Lola had facial injuries and some puncture marks on her arm, while Isabella suffered injuries to her arm, she said.

Both children are understood to have undergone surgery.

Mrs Koupparis told radio station BBC London: "It's something I would never expect to happen to anybody, let alone happen to my beautiful girls."

The twins were attacked as they slept at their parents' smart three-storey home at around 10pm on Saturday.

Their four-year-old brother, Max, who was also sleeping upstairs, was not hurt.

The fox is thought to have crept in through a door on the ground floor which had been left open because of the hot weather while Mr and Mrs Koupparis watched Britain's Got Talent on television.