Father pays tribute to his‘poor boy’ attacked by fox

The father of a month-old baby dragged from his cot by a fox has paid tribute to his “poor boy” as he continues his recovery in hospital.

Denny Dolan was seriously injured after the animal entered the house near Bromley, south east London, where he lives with his parents, named as Hayley Banks Cawley, 28, and Paul Dolan.

Surgeons reportedly had to reattach one of the baby’s fingers after the incident on Wednesday. He also had cuts to his face which needed stitches.

Messages of support for Denny have flooded onto his mother’s Facebook page, while Mr Dolan posted a photograph on the site which showed his son with his hand heavily bandaged.

In the picture caption Mr Dolan wrote: “My poor boy.”

One message read: “Hayley I can’t imagine how your feeling if I can do anything to help just let me no!! Sending lots of love xxxxxxxx”.

Another added: “Hayley hope your ok Hun, and little man is being taken care of properly where he is, if ya need anything just say xx”.

A message on Mr Dolan’s Facebook page read: “Poor little man :- (sending lots of positive thoughts to him x x x”.

The baby was said to be “recovering well” in hospital after being moved from the high-dependency unit.

Lorraine Murphy, the child’s aunt, said his mother had gone upstairs when she heard a bang and rushed back down to find the fox dragging the baby towards the door.

“It was so traumatic,” she said. “The family are devastated. I spoke to my brother at the hospital, but he couldn’t even talk. Denny’s lovely — he was a perfect baby.”

The family made numerous requests for a damaged door to be fixed and have vowed not to return to the house.

But Phoenix Community Housing, responsible for maintenance issues with the property, said repair works were completed last month.

A spokeswoman said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with Ms Cawley and her family at this distressing time.

“We can confirm that repairs were carried out to windows and doors at the property on 24 Jan 2013.

“We did not receive further reports from the family for repairs works at the home after this date.”

The fox attack took place in Downham which is about 4km north of Bromley, but lies within the borough of Lewisham.

Local councillor Julia Fletcher said she was aware of complaints of people leaving food out for foxes in the area in recent years..

An RSPCA spokeswoman said that the only reason a fox would attack a human is due to fear and it is “extremely unusual” for them to hurt children.