Baby killed by dog was 'taken from mum's arms and attacked'

A four-month-old baby was ripped from his mother’s arms and savaged to death by the family dog, an inquest has been told.

Archie Joe Darby died on 13 October after being attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog in Colchester, Essex.

His 22-month-old brother, Daniel-Jay, was also bitten and has been left with "life-changing injuries".

The boys' mother suffered minor injuries.

During a hearing at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford, coroner's officer David Dinnell said: "Archie Darby was a four-month-old baby being held in his mother's arms when he was taken out of her arms by the family dog and attacked."

An ambulance rushed to the scene but Archie was pronounced dead despite attempts to revive him with CPR.

A post-mortem examination showed the infant died of severe head injuries consistent with a dog attack.

His body has yet to be released.

The dog, which has now been put down, belonged to Archie's aunt, a 31-year-old Essex Police officer named in reports as Clare Ferdinand.

After the tragedy, Archie's parents said: "Heaven has gained a beautiful little angel and he will be greatly missed by us all."

Police are not treating the incident as a criminal investigation.

The hearing was adjourned until 5 December.