A 12-year-old girl is lucky to be alive after she faced a gruesome mauling by an XL Bully, as her mother recounted the horrific attack.
Avya Batkin was almost mauled to death by the aggressive canine when it left her with vicious bite marks at the start of October in south Wales.
Despite being left “inches from death”, going through life-changing injuries and undergoing plastic surgery, the martial arts fanatic has continued on with her training.
During the surgery, the victim had to have skin and ligaments removed from her leg and implanted into her arm to aid her rehabilitation, although her road to recovery will be extensive.
The victim had to have skin and ligaments removed from her leg and implanted into her arm to aid her rehabilitation, although her road to recovery will be extensive (Stock)
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Nevertheless, the brave schoolgirl has already returned to the training room, practising her kicks in the Korean art of Tang Soo Do at the club that she attends with her brother.
Avya’s mother Louisa Batkin said: “My daughter is the definition of bravery.
“While her arm was severely damaged one of the first things she said to me was she was so glad it was her and not her brothers, knowing especially her younger brother is so small.
“She is my inspiration and any person should aspire to have her bravery and get up and go – which has made me forget she is only 12! I am so proud of her.”
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At the club, her peers launched a fundraiser of 50 fancy dress fights to raise funds for the victim and her family to “have a nice day out to try and make them forget what happened”.
Instructor Master Angus Rogers said: “Before the attack the Ayva and Logan never missed a class, taking their training very seriously.
“It was humbling to hear from Ayva’s mum that one of the first things she said after her ordeal was that she’d be missing her Tang Soo Do classes – this is a true testament to Ayva’s tenacious character and determination not to let what happened affect her.
“With this in mind, we wanted to make a small gesture to show just how much she means to us as a club, as she’s already back at the dojang training solely using kicks.”
On October 7, Avya was getting out of her father’s car when the dog – whose owner was unknown to Avya and her family – began to attack her, ripping of a large part of her tricep after it ravaged her back, leaving scars and bruises
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On October 7, Avya was getting out of her father’s car when the dog – whose owner was unknown to Avya and her family – began to attack her, ripping off a large part of her tricep after it ravaged her back, leaving scars and bruises.
Her father managed to wrangle the unmuzzled beast to prevent further injury until emergency services arrived at the scene.
Since the attack, two individuals have been arrested and an investigation remains ongoing, according to a statement released by Gwent Police.
It read: “A 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from the Brynmawr area, have been arrested on suspicion of owning or possessing a dog bred for fighting and owning or possessing a dog dangerously out of control.”
The XL Bully has since been seized by the authorities and put down by a veterinary surgeon, as police have confirmed that no other animals were involved in the attack.