A seven-month-old baby who was attacked by his family’s pet dog has died after suffering “catastrophic” head trauma, an inquest has heard.

Elle Doherty was on the ground near her parents when the 31kg Belgian Malinois launched a “sudden and unexpected” attack, Coventry Coroner’s Court heard.

Regional coroner Delroy Henry concluded the attack at the family home in Coundon on June 16 lasted “less than a second” with the dog, called Zeus, immediately removed.

She suffered skull fractures and cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at hospital an hour after the attack.