Dad says his world has shattered to pieces after son is killed by dog in Cornwall

  • Video report by ITV News Correspondent Rupert Evelyn

The father of a nine-year-old boy who died after being attacked by a dog at a holiday park in Cornwall has paid an emotional tribute to his son.

Billy MacRitchie from Plymouth says his world has been "shattered into a million pieces" after his son Frankie MacRitchie died at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe.

He shared the tribute with the help of his sister Danielle on Facebook.

Frankie's father Billy describes his son as his best friend. Credit: Billy MacRitchie/Facebook
Police have asked people not to speculate on social media. Credit: ITV West Country

Brian Jones, the headteacher at the school Frankie attended said the student was "a happy, cheeky, young man".

He added he "was a pleasure to have around our school".

Police were called to a caravan the Looe holiday site just before 5am on Saturday 13 April following reports of a boy in an unresponsive state after being attacked by a dog, believed to be a bulldog-type breed.

Officers arrested a 28-year-old woman in Plymouth on suspicion of having a dog dangerously out of control and manslaughter; she has since been released under police investigation pending further enquiries.

The dog has also been seized and remains in kennels.

Flowers and tributes have been left at the holiday park.

Frankie's primary school, Riverside Community School, is opening specially in the school holidays today until 2pm to offer support to the families of other children.