Toddler death dog to be examined

Archie-Lee Hirst died from multiple injuries

Vets are to examine a rottweiler that mauled a 13-month-old boy to death in a bid to establish why it turned on the child, an inquest has heard.

Archie-Lee Hirst was killed on Friday at his grandparents' home in Chald Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The dog was shot dead by a police marksman.

The dog was used to children and the attack was completely unexpected, police told Wakefield Coroner's Court.

Vets will test for any abnormality in the animal on Thursday.

Adjourning Wednesday's inquest until a later date, coroner David Hinchliff said Archie-Lee's body could now be released to the family for a funeral.

The child was formally identified by his mother Rebecca Hirst at Pinderfield Hospital on Friday night - two days before her 18th birthday.

We have got to establish that there is no abnormality in the dog which caused this tragic incident Det Supt Steve Payne, West Yorkshire Police

A post mortem examination carried out by Home Office pathologist Professor Christopher Milroy on Saturday revealed that he died from multiple injuries consistent with a dog attack.

Police officers have been interviewing neighbours as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The toddler was spending Christmas at the house in Wakefield when the dog launched the attack.

Archie-Lee was being carried to the back door by his seven-year-old aunt when the rottweiler snatched him out of her arms.

The boy's aunt tried to fight off the dog in the yard of the house

He died later in hospital despite his 16-year-old aunt's attempt to save him from the dog's jaws.

Speaking at the inquest, Det Supt Steve Payne said: "We have got no reported incidents where this dog attacked someone previously.

"The dog was used to the family and had interacted with Archie before.

"Unfortunately for some reason the dog snatched Archie from the arms of the seven-year-old."

He said vets would try to establish why the animal acted so aggressively.

"We have got to establish that there is no abnormality in the dog which caused this tragic incident," Det Supt Payne said.