PITBULL RIPS OFF THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY'S SCALP
13:00 AEST Sat Dec 5 2009 By ninemsn staff
A three-year-old boy has had most of his scalp torn off in a pitbull attack in the Northern Territory.
The boy, whose name has not been released, was playing in the backyard of a relative's house in Katherine when a pitbull latched onto his hair and ripped off a large section of his scalp, the NT news reports.
The boy's mother, who was inside the house at the time of the mauling, ran outside when she heard his screams.
Paramedics rushed the boy to Katherine Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
A large part of the boy's scalp, measuring 10cm by 7cm was left exposed after the attack.
Ambulance deputy operations manager Craig Garraway told the NT News that the boy had sustained an extremely severe injury.
"The dog has taken the top of his scalp off from his forehead right back," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
"I would imagine he would have to undergo a series of surgeries to repair the severed scalp."
The dog involved in the attack has been put down.