Girl, 10, killed when XL Bully attacked her at home died of ‘neck injuries’

A 10-year-old Yorkshire girl who was attacked by her family’s pet XL bully died from her neck injuries, an inquest has heard.

Savannah Bentham was attacked by the dog in a static caravan she lived in, near the village of East Heslerton, North Yorkshire, on November 1.

A neighbour from the caravan site rushed inside to help the girl while a relative locked the dog inside a car before it was seized and taken to a kennel.

The schoolgirl, described as ‘beautiful and intelligent’, was declared dead on the scene.

A hearing in Northallerton heard today that a provisional cause of death has been determined as neck injuries from the dog.

Assistant coroner Alison Norton said: ‘Savannah Bentham, on November 1 2024, was attacked by a dog at her home address and sustained fatal injuries.’

The coroner opened the inquest, which lasted around three minutes, before adjourning it to a further date.

An investigation is ongoing into the attack, with one line of inquiry focusing on the dog’s behaviour to find out why it attacked.

Police said at the time that all indications suggested it was out of character, and that the girl and the pet had a close and loving relationship.

The force said the dog was identified as an XL bully and was put down by a vet.

A spokesman said the dog had been with the family for four years and had a Certificate of Exemption under new legislation. It had also been neutered.

In a statement issued by North Yorkshire Police after the incident, the family said: ‘We are utterly shocked and devastated by what happened to Savannah. We can’t believe we have lost our wonderful girl who we love so much.’

Savannah, an only child, had moved to the village with her family during the summer, locals told MailOnline.

One local farmer, who asked not to be named, previously said the ‘really polite’ girl ‘was a lovely little lass who you would see riding her bike around’.

He said: ‘The mother ran out from the static caravan screaming “my baby’s dead”. Some people from the caravan site went over to help. She was obviously really distraught.

‘The police got here very fast, there were two helicopters, ambulances turned up and an armed response unit. Someone put the dog in a car apparently.’

He added: ‘The dog is an XL bully. It has been certified and is well looked after. It’s a very big dog.

‘I’ve seen it around the pub a few times, it doesn’t bother anyone or other dogs and is well-behaved.’

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