A four-year-old girl was mauled by a pit bull while her mum desperately tried to fight it off.
Alexis Higham had been walking with her daughter, Carina Palladino, when the dog suddenly attacked the child.
The 31-year-old says the animal approached them but she couldn’t see its owner.
READ MORE: Driver miraculously survives 300ft drop after truck plunges off mountain road
She claims the mutt suddenly latched onto Carina’s face and “ripped her to the ground”.
The care worker tried to wrestle the pit bull off by using her water bottle and a plant pot.
“I thought if the dog bit her one more time, it would kill her,” Alexis, from Mentor, Ohio, told Need To Know.
“We saw the dog and I told Karina to keep walking.
“It latched on to her face, ripped her to the ground and started mauling her face.
“I reached for her body and the dog latched onto my left hand, so I used my right hand to put Carina on top of my head.
“The dog was still ripping my hand.
“I put Carina on top of a picnic table and used a plant pot to beat the dog off.
“I was screaming and all I could think was that I was going to die,
“I was going to bleed to death.”
The horrific attack happened on 4 October.
According to Alexis, the owner later appeared from a nearby house and took the dog inside.
A passerby called for an ambulance.
She said: “I was in a lot of pain.
“My hands were bleeding, Carina’s face was bleeding.
“I went into Superman mode.
“I just needed to save her.”
Carina was rushed for reconstructive surgery while Alexis got stitches in her hand.
She said: “When I saw Carina’s injuries, I thought she was going to die.
“I was so scared.
“She’s so traumatised, she’s scared to go outside.
“Carina [now] screams and covers her ears when she hears barking.
“We both have nightmares every night.
“I have flashbacks.”
Alexis has set up a GoFundMe to help cover bills while she’s off work recovering.
The mum claims the animal has been put to sleep.
READ MORE: Seven people dead and multiple animals missing as rescue van carrying 37 cats hit by lorry
Carina. (Picture: Jam Press)
Alexis’ injuries. (Picture: Jam Press)
Alexis’ injuries. (Picture: Jam Press)
