Brave mum praised for saving toddler from dog that killed her baby

A mum has been commended for her bravery in trying to fend off a dog that killed her baby son.

The Staffordshire bull terrier savagely attacked Jade Rogers’ two young sons, but she was only able to save the older boy, an inquest heard.

Jade was home alone with four-month-old Archie Joe Darby and Daniel-Jay, whose turns two this weekend, when the family dog, Bailey, entered the room and “immediately” attacked Daniel-Jay.

Miss Rogers fought the dog away from the toddler but the animal managed to pull baby Archie from her arms and maul him to death.

Essex Coroner Eleanor McGann, recording a conclusion of accidental death, hailed Miss Rogers for her bravery in dialling 999, fighting off the dog and barricading it in a conservatory until police and paramedics arrived.

It took a team of dog handlers with specialist equipment to remove the “aggressive” pet, an inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford heard on Friday.

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Miss Rogers had moved in to the house in Harwich Road, Colchester, with her sister, Clare Ferdinand, who is a serving Essex Police officer, around a week before the attack on October 13.

The property is owned by Mrs Ferdinand’s husband, John, and the couple were the owners of the dog, which was put down with their consent.

The family had got the dog from a rescue centre and no concerns had been raised about its behaviour.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Gary Biddle said a previous owner had got rid of Bailey because her Jack Russell, a smaller dog, used to attack him.

Miss Rogers told police she was in the living room with her two sons and was video-calling the children’s father, Daniel Darby.

The dog entered the living room while the pair were on the phone, Mr Biddle said.

“It growled and immediately attacked Daniel,” he said. “Jade went to get up and tried to move the dog out of the room.

“It went straight for Daniel’s head, started biting and shaking his head while she had Archie in her arms.

“She tried to pull the dog off Daniel. It dropped Daniel and pulled Archie out of her arms.”

The dog shook Archie around and dropped him, and he died of head injuries.

“Jade said she knew instantly that Archie was dead,” said Mr Biddle. “She decided to save Daniel, thought ‘I can save Daniel’, ran into the kitchen with him, grabbed the phone and dialled 999.

“The dog was still having a go at Daniel, grabbed him off the kitchen counter.

“On the 999 call you can hear him attacking Daniel and you can hear Jade shouting and screaming, trying to get the dog off.”

Mr Biddle said Miss Rogers managed to barricade the dog in the conservatory and had to hold the door shut to prevent it from continuing to attack the boys.
Officers had to force entry to the house because she could not leave the door to let them in.

Police took advice from the Crown Prosecution Service and were satisfied that no offences had been committed.

Coroner Ms McGann described the attack as “harrowing”.

“Nobody here is to blame,” she said. “It’s just one of those hideous things that comes out of the blue, can’t be predicted and, Miss Rogers, I commend you for your bravery fighting off a dog attacking both of your children.”

Image: Family handout/PA Wire