Pair in ‘manslaughter’ probe after baby death

A 24-year-old man and 20-year-old woman have both been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and manslaughter following the alleged incident in Emily Street, Blackburn, at 11pm yesterday (Monday).

The dog was destroyed at the scene.

Chief Supt Chris Bithell said: “This is an absolutely horrific incident in which a baby girl lost her life and we would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy to the wider family.”

He told how officers called to the scene by the ambulance service performed CPR on the baby alongside paramedics before she was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where she died a short time later.

A Home Office post mortem examination will be carried out later today to establish how she died.

“Officers are continuing to carry out inquiries at the scene and investigate the circumstances of what has happened,” he went on.

“Family liaison officers have been put in place to offer support to the wider family of the baby.”

He added: “Tests will be carried out to establish the exact breed of the dog involved and we are making inquiries into the history of the animal.

“Nobody else was injured during the incident.”