Toddler wanders out of home in Selangor, mauled by stray dogs

A 19-month-old toddler in Malaysia died following a dog attack on Tuesday (July 22) morning.

Sungai Buloh district police chief Mohd Hafiz Muhammad Nor said the boy's parents had discovered their front door open when they returned home from work at about 8.15am, reported the New Straits Times.

They subsequently found their child lying unconscious at around 20 metres away from the kampung house in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh, and surrounded by stray dogs. 

The horrified couple reportedly carried their son to their car and rushed him to the hospital, but he did not respond to resuscitation efforts. Their child was pronounced dead at 9.14am.

Mohd Hafiz said they received a report about the incident at 8.40am on Tuesday from a Sungai Buloh Hospital emergency department medical officer.

"A detailed examination found multiple scratches and bite marks on his head and entire body, which is consistent with marks of an animal attack," Mohd Hafiz reportedly said.

The police chief added that the boy was being looked after by his uncle, reported Bernama.

He had been sleeping in the living room prior to the incident and had supposedly wandered outside without his uncle knowing, leading to the tragedy.

"It was only after the uncle of the deceased child heard the screams of the couple that he realised the child had been attacked by stray dogs," said Mohd Hafiz, according to China Press.

The toddler's uncle, who is 19, was arrested by the police on Thursday (July 24), reported The Star.

Mohd Hafiz confirmed in a statement that an autopsy determined the victim had died after being mauled by dogs.

Police are investigating the case for negligence.

lim.kewei@asiaone.com