Five-month-old baby dies after brutal dog attack in South Carolina
A 5-month-old baby died in South Carolina after suffering critical injuries during a dog attack inside a home in Anderson County.
A five-month-old baby died after being brutally attacked by a dog inside a home in South Carolina, in an event that has left his family devastated.
The minor, identified as Dean Everett Gross, suffered critical injuries on May 14 during the incident that occurred in Anderson County, according to authorities.
The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said it received reports of the attack around 1:00 p.m. When the agents arrived at the scene, they found the baby and another adult injured, while the dog had escaped from the residence, reported Fox Carolina.
The baby remained in intensive care for a day
According to authorities, the child was rushed by helicopter to a hospital in Greenville due to the severity of his injuries. He remained in intensive care for approximately 24 hours before passing away on Friday.
The Anderson County Coroner's Office later confirmed the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries and classified the case as an accident.
So far, authorities have not revealed the dog's breed or who owned the animal.
Police said the dog was later located near Cater's Lake and taken into the custody of Anderson County PAWS.
Family and friends mourn the tragedy
The baby's parents, Thomas Gross and Natalie Gross, described their son as “the treasure of their lives” in a fundraising campaign created after the tragedy.
“He was deeply loved and brought joy to everyone who knew him,” says the message released by the family.
The campaign surpassed tens of thousands of dollars in donations in the first few days, as friends and relatives expressed messages of support and condolences.
Miller Gross, the minor's uncle, stated on social media that the baby was “sweet and happy” and said he felt grateful to have shared with him during his five months of life.
Authorities confirmed that another adult was injured during the attack, although he was later released from the hospital. That person's identity has not been publicly revealed.
The case remains under investigation as authorities attempt to clarify the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.