A heartbroken mother has shared a new photo of her ‘blue-eyed baby girl.’ Bella-Rae Birch, 1, raises £2,000 as a funeral fundraiser

A HEARTBROKEN MOTHER has shared a new photo of her “blue-eyed baby girl” after a funeral fund-raiser raised £2,000 in just hours.

Bella-Rae Birch, one, was mauled by the family’s pet dog in St Helens, Merseyside, and died in hospital on Monday evening from her horrific injuries.

Her heartbroken family paid tribute to “much-loved” Bella-Rae, while neighbours described the tragedy as they raced to help save the young girl.

The family is now raising funds for her funeral, with her mother paying tribute to her “blue-eyed baby girl” as a new photo of Bella-Rae was released.

So far, tributes to the tragic girl have raised £2,300.

“On the 21st of March, we sadly lost our gorgeous blue-eyed baby girl, who was only one year old, in a tragic sudden accident,” Treysharn said.

“Bella, you’re my boo. Have a wonderful day, beautiful; we adore you.”

Little Bella-Rae died after being attacked by the family’s dog at their home.

According to cops, the dog, which is thought to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or a Pitbull Terrier, joined the family only a week ago.

As others recalled the desperate screams of onlookers, one local rushed to the scene and performed CPR on the toddler before emergency services arrived.

On Monday afternoon, the 17-month-old was brutally attacked by the family’s out-of-control dog.

Just before 4 p.m. Monday, emergency services were called to the home in Blackbrook, St Helens.

Following the vicious dog attack, the tot was discovered with serious injuries, and Bella-Rae was taken to the hospital.

However, the toddler tragically died as a result of her injuries a short time later.

Bella-heartbroken Rae’s family said yesterday: “We would like to thank the community for their help as a family.

“We would like to request some space and time to try to come to terms with the tragic loss of our beloved Bella-Rae.

“She will be sorely missed, but she will never be forgotten.”

Following the vicious attack, police confirmed that the hound was apprehended and then humanely destroyed.

An investigation is now underway to determine who the dog’s previous owner was.

Cops are also investigating whether the dog was of an illegal breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991).

Witnesses said they saw the Staffordshire terrier-type dog being taken away from the house yesterday.

Linda-Birchall, 61, an eyewitness, described seeing the “devastated” and “inconsolable” family shortly after the attack.

“They were all in the square outside,” she explained.

“They appeared devastated and distraught. That’s a terrible thing to happen.”

And a neighbour who plans to become a paramedic said: “We were driving home from school when we heard screaming.

“I simply ran over to assist and began CPR until the paramedics arrived.

TRAGIC TOT

“The baby wasn’t well. I tried to help her. I started CPR, which I did for around 30 seconds. It was just myself.”

Another neighbour Joanne Matthews, 53, described the girl, named locally as Bella-Rae Birch, as a “beautiful little girl”.

She said she’d seen an ambulance and police cars outside the family on Monday before the dog was brought out.

Joanne said: ”I saw them bring the dog out.

“I couldn’t tell what breed it was but from the back it looked like a Staffordshire bull terrier or pitbull.

“I’d see the family in passing, just to say hello, and they were always very pleasant.”

“It’s very shocking,” said Henry Tibay, 63, a retail worker, “and I’m concerned about what’s happened.”

“It’s concerning because there are many children playing on the street.”

“It was a stocky dog,” said one neighbour who did not want to be identified.

“From the back, it looked like a Staffie. I saw the cops bring it out and load it into the back of a van.”

“It’s a shame what’s happened,” she added. I can’t believe I won’t see the little girl anymore who used to play football in the street.”

One man, visibly upset, stated that he would be at the scene shortly after the girl was attacked.

“They’re a lovely family, and the parents doted on their two children,” he added. They were always by their side.”

Yesterday, two police officers, Treysharn Bates and Ryan Birch, remained outside the address where Bella-Rae lived with her mother and father.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said she returned home from the shops around 4.30 p.m., when the area was heavily policed.

“It’s usually very quiet here and safe for children,” she said, “but hearing something like this has happened is so distressing.”

One resident, who did not want to be identified, stated: “What has occurred is simply heartbreaking.

“This is a typical quiet street, and children would play in it. The little girl, a toddler, was constantly on the move.

“They were a very nice family with two children.”

Officers were stationed outside the house, which was cordoned off with police tape, on Tuesday morning, and a forensics officer was seen entering the property.

Merseyside Police Superintendent Steve Brizell said at a press conference outside the home yesterday, “Bella-Rae has lost her life in the most unimaginably terrible circumstances, and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and the wider community at this devastating time.”

“Our specialist family liaison officers are assisting Bella-family, Rae’s and officers will remain in the area in the coming days to provide additional reassurance and support to the wider community.”

“At this point, we believe the family dog they purchased just a week ago attacked Bella-Rae inside the family home.”

‘DEVASTATED’

“Bella-Rae was transported to the hospital by ambulance by paramedics, but despite the best efforts of police officers on the scene, paramedics, and doctors, Bella-Rae died as a result of her injuries yesterday afternoon.

“It has left the family and the community in mourning and shock.

“The dog was handed over to police at the address during the incident and was humanely destroyed.

“Detailed investigations into this tragic event are ongoing, as are forensic examinations to determine the dog’s breed, and we are working to identify the dog’s previous owners so we can establish its history.