The family of a two-year-old boy who was mauled to death by dogs outside a motel have described how the horrifying attack took place in a "split second."
Jyedon Pollard was riding his scooter outside the Country Gardens Motor Inn at around 10am on Tuesday when he was he was attacked by the animals.
Jyedon sustained serious neck and face injuries and was rushed to Cowra Hospital in critical condition before being airlifted to Westmead Hospital in Sydney, where he tragically died on Tuesday afternoon.
It has been reported that a Rottweiler and cattle dog were responsible for the attack, which were believed to belong to the motel's owner, Matt McIllhatton.
The young boy's family said that the attack happened while his mother, Kesha Pollard, went to get him a drink.
Chifley police superintendent Bob Noble said the dogs were secured in a yard before the attack and that an investigation into how the incident happened is currently underway, 9NEWS reported.
But the boy's family have disputed claims that the dogs were secured.
Jyedon's uncles Robert and Jake claim that the animals burst out from the gate and attacked Jyedon.
Robert, who joined Jyedon's mother Kesha at the hospital, the Mail : "Jyedon was riding his scooter out the front of their room and Kesha went inside to get him a drink.
"In that split second the dogs have either jumped over the gate or run out after it was left open and attacked Jyedon."
Jake added that his sister "doesn't know what to do".
"She just wants her son back", he said.
The brothers also claimed that the dogs were put down on Tuesday evening after being seized by the council following the attack in in Cowra, New South Wales.
According to reports from The Daily Telegraph, Jydeon and his family had been staying at the motel temporarily while they waited for permanent accommodation.
Noble also said that police are too early into the investigation to say whether any charges will be laid, reports 7NEWS.
The superintendent claimed that the motel owner did everything he could to try and save the young boy.
He said: “You can only imagine how that person felt when they found the child in those circumstances,
“He reacted bravely and concisely and, along with medical staff at the hospital and police, gave the child a fighting chance.”
“It’s an extremely unfortunate set of circumstances that’s seemed to have led to this tragedy. When a child dies so young in sudden circumstances it’s horrific.”
