A BABY boy was ripped out of his loving mother’s arms by a family dog and killed.

Archie Joe Darby suffered “severe head injuries consistent with a dog attack” and could not be revived.

An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Essex Coroner’s Court today by Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray.

Coroner’s Officer David Dinnell said: “Archie Joe Darby was a four-month-old baby being held in his mother’s arms when he was taken out of her arms by the family dog and attacked.

“There were no injuries inconsistent with a dog attack.”

The horrific incident took place at about 3.10pm on Thursday, October 13, at a property on Harwich Road, Colchester.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene.

Paramedics, from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, attempted CPR on the baby but he could not be revived.

Baby Archie was pronounced dead at 4.02pm.

A police investigation is continuing however it is not believed to be a criminal investigation but one looking into the circumstances surrounding the tragic attack.

Following the attack Archie Joe Darby’s body was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

A post mortem examination was carried out by Dr Nat Carey and Dr Palm with the provisional cause of death given as severe head injuries consistent with a dog attack.

Archie’s brother, 22-month-old Daniel-Jay Darby, remains in hospital having been attacked by the same Staffordshire Bull Terrier type dog.

Their mother, 24-year-old Jade Rogers, tried to save her children and required hospital treatment for her own injuries.

Ms Rogers and her children are understood to have moved into the Colchester home just days before.

She was staying with relatives Clare Ferdinand, 31, a serving police officer, and her husband John.

John and Clare owned the dog and were uncle and aunt to Archie Joe Darby.

Mrs Beasley-Murray adjourned the inquest for a mention next week with a provisional inquest scheduled for December 5.

She told her officer she will require a copy of the post mortem examination report and “very importantly any police report”.

She also invited his family to “put something down in writing” to her should they so wish.

UPDATE 4pm:

THE owners of the dog which killed Archie say they will carry the burden of his death forever.

Clare Ferdinand, a serving Essex police officer, owned the Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog with her husband, IT worker John Ferdinand.

She said: "I am making this statement on behalf of my husband and I.

"I am a serving Essex Police officer, but more importantly I am a wife, a sister, a daughter and an auntie.

"We are still struggling to comprehend the circumstances we find ourselves in, having lost our gorgeous Archie Bum and seeing Daniel fighting on. 

"We cannot believe this has happened, and would never have risked the lives of our precious nephews.

"It was our dog that did this, and we will have to carry that burden and learn to cope with it."

Archie's brother, Daniel-Jay, was also injured in the attack and is recovering in hospital having suffered life-changing injuries. 

He will require on-going treatment for his injuries. 

Essex Police bosses have also confirmed Archie's death is not being treated as suspicious. An investigaton, however, will continue. 

A child death review is also planned.