A family’s worst nightmare materialized yesterday when 11 year old Rachel Bhagwandeen was mauled to death by an American Bulldog while visiting family at Solomon Street in Vistabella.

Rachel and her brother, nine year old Jaylen, were watching television at their uncle’s home when the dog entered the house.

The girl’s mother, Seema Bhagwandeen said she attempted to distract the dog, luring it to bite her instead, but the animal refused to release its grip on the child.

“She pushed out her brother, and he ran out and said, ‘Mommy, Rachel get bite up’. My big brother went there first and it attacked him. I went, and I tried to kick the dog. The dog just started to shake up my baby girl,” Bhagwandeen said.

“I hit the dog. I kicked the dog. My baby girl is gone, and I am seeing her stretching out, bawling mommy, mommy, mommy, and I cannot do anything,” she cried.

“I do not know if the dog jumped the gate. I do not know what happened. I know it just ran straight into the bedroom and mauled her like she was a rag doll,” Bhagwandeen said.

Rachel died at the scene.

The mother told reporters visiting the home yesterday afternoon that they usually visited their relatives on Thursdays, and were due to leave soon when the tragedy occurred.

Seema described her daughter as a bright child, who was diligent about her studies and was preparing to sit the SEA examination next year.