Toddler attacked by Akita dog miraculously survives - thanks to woolly hat

A toddler from Staffordshire attacked by a dog which tried to clamp its jaws round his head escaped lasting damage thanks to him wearing a woolly hat.

Paul-Naylass Passmore, 2, was walking to nursery with his mum Courtney Jones, 25, when a dog ran out of a nearby flat and attacked him.

The American Akita clamped its jaws around the young boy’s scalp, taking an 8x5cm chunk of flesh off his head.

The young boy, from Wombourne in Staffordshire, was rushed to hospital and remained there for four nights, undergoing an operation to reattach his severed scalp and a skin graft.

Neighbours of the young boy had stored the piece of Paul’s scalp in a lunchbox, before his dad raced to the hospital with it.

However, medics told the family that the injury could have been a lot worse if the dog had punctured their son’s skull.

Paul-Naylass’ dad, James Passmore, 37, said that the dog couldn't get a full grip on his son's head due to the knitted blue beanie he was wearing.

Mr Passmore said: "They said it could've been years of surgeries if they couldn't reattach the scalp and if it had punctured the skull.

"Luckily for my son, it was the easier option in the end, there was no major damage it was just skin damage, but it doesn't make it right.

"We believe because he had his woolly hat on, that's what saved him."

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "Police were called at 8.20am on Monday 22 March to an address in Wombourne following reports of an unruly dog.

"Officers attended the property on Elder Grove where a two-year-old boy was reported as being bitten by the animal.

"The child sustained bite injuries to his head and back from the 12-month-old American Akita dog in the communal area of a block of flats.

"The dog, which was unknown to the child and his parents, was secured by officers at the scene and the owner later agreed for the animal to be seized.

"The child was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where he underwent surgery.”