AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy has been left scarred for life after his neighbour's Staffordshire Bull Terrier savaged his arm and chest.

Cooper Johnstone was found drifting in and out of consciousness after the dog ripped the flesh from his arm in Ormskirk, Lancs, last Wednesday.

5 Cooper Johnstone was attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Ormskirk, Lancs Credit: Mercury Press

5 Cooper's flesh was ripped from the bone in the attack

The young boy now suffers from flashbacks after the attack, with police launching an investigation.

His shocked parents Karan and Ellis recounted the devastating moment they received a call

Dad Ellis, who runs a party tent hire company, said: "I got a phone call from my daughter, who lives near the owner of the dog.

"She said ‘Cooper has been attacked by a dog and there is blood everywhere’. "We ran round and his blood was all over the floor – Cooper was drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Everyone was in shock, Cooper had a towel round his arm and my daughter was on the phone to the ambulance.

"He was in hospital for two days afterwards, they stitched his chest up and he had surgery on his hand and the back of his forearm. "He is going back tomorrow to see the plastic surgeon, but it will be a permanent disfigurement.

"He's told us he was terrified and thought he was going to die."

Cooper’s family claim the young boy had knocked on the door of a friend's house to ask him to come and play when the animal escaped and launched the attack.

HAUNTED BY THE ATTACK

He suffered multiple bites to his arm, hand and chest, was rushed to hospital by ambulance and spent two days recovering at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after the horrifying incident.

Ellis and Karan said their previously "happy go lucky" son has been left suffering flashbacks. The dog has now been seized by police, who confirmed they are investigating.

Ellis added: “Before this he was happy go lucky, now he has flashbacks.

"One minute he is shouting at you the next he is giggling, he is up and down like a yoyo.

"I am just absolutely horrified something like this can happen just by knocking on a friend's door."

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A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We were contacted around 1:15pm on July 24 following reports a child had been bitten by a dog in Ormskirk.

"An 11-year-old boy suffered injuries to his arm and chest and he was taken to Alder Hey Hospital, where he was treated.

"An investigation is underway, and the dog has been seized by police while enquiries are ongoing."

5 The young boy is now suffering flashbacks

5 The little boy had been on his way to visit a friend when the attack unfolded

5 The young boy was found drifting in and out consciousness Credit: Mercury Press