Girl, 10, Hospitalized with ‘Life-Changing’ Injuries Following Dog Attack as She Was Walking Home from School

A 10-year-old girl is recovering in hospital after a dog attack left her seriously injured in Bolton, England.

Mina Bestun was bitten while walking home from school on Roseneath Road on Wednesday, Feb. 4, according to The Bolton News, the BBC and SWNS, citing Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

A GMP spokesperson said officers were called to the scene at about 3:30 p.m. local time. “Emergency services attended, and a 10-year-old girl was taken to [the] hospital with serious injuries, believed to be life-changing,” the spokesperson said.

Authorities said armed response vehicles and GMP’s dog unit were deployed, and two dogs were detained. GMP told the BBC the dog believed to have attacked Mina was an “XL bully type,” a breed type banned in England since 2024.

The dogs’ owners — a 28-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman — were arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control. Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Speaking to The Bolton News and SWNS from hospital on Feb. 5, Mina described what happened as she neared her home.

“I was just going back home, and then I think it was a bulldog, a big dog, and it bit me two houses down from mine,” she said.

She added, “I just want to say that make sure you take care of your dog, keep them inside the house.”

Mina’s mother, Soma Mohammed, told The Bolton News that neighbors who witnessed the attack tried to distract the dog so her daughter could get away.

“When she was coming back from school, the neighbors said they saw a dog around here. My daughter was coming down the street and the dog got her,” Mohammed said.

She said Mina had 13 tooth marks, including four deep wounds, and was placed on antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Mina’s father, Bestun Ibrahim, told The Bolton News on Feb. 5 that his daughter was scheduled for another operation on her arm.

“It was only her arm — if it was her face or her stomach, what would I do then? She was very lucky,” he told the BBC.

“Please, if you have a dog keep an eye on it,” he added. “This happened to my little daughter, I don’t want it to happen again to another kid.”