The family of a nine-year-old boy mauled to death by a dog have paid tribute to him as a ‘very happy cheeky boy’.
Frankie Macritchie, from Plymouth, died while on holiday at Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall on Saturday.
He is believed to have been alone in a caravan with the ‘bulldog-type breed’ when he was attacked.
In a tribute issued through Devon and Cornwall Police, his family said the schoolboy had a ‘special heart’.
They said: ‘Frankie was a very happy cheeky boy.
‘He had a very special heart and was a fighter from the minute he was born, he was Mummy’s Boy and Daddy’s soldier.’
The statement described how Frankie was loved by his ‘Nanna and Grumps’.
It continued: ‘He loved trampolining and feeding lambs with his cousins, eating chips on the seafront, and sleepovers at all his Aunties’ and Uncles’ houses.
‘Our wonderful little Frankie will be so very missed by all of his family with every breath that we take.
Americans love dogs! 62% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 72.9 million homes
‘The family of Frankie Gray Macritchie would also like to thank the medical staff, police, staff at Tencreek Holiday Park, and the kind caring people that came to Frankie’s aid.
‘We would now like to ask for some privacy to be able to grieve for the loss of our boy.’
Police said enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Frankie’s death were continuing.
Speaking on Sunday, Detective Superintendent Mike West said: ‘Frankie had been staying at the Holiday Park in the company of adults for a number of evenings prior to his tragic death.
‘We believe that Frankie was alone in a caravan with the dog as he was attacked, whilst … the adults that he was on holiday with, were in an adjacent unit.
‘These two groups of people were all known to each other and all from the Plymouth area.’