Woman Mauled to Death by Dog, Family Believes Seizure May Have 'Spooked' Animal

A British woman was killed in a vicious attack by her family’s dog, officials said.

On Monday, July 22, at about 12:15 p.m., police officers and paramedics responded to a call about a dog attack at a property on Wexford Road in Coventry, in central England, where they found Kelly Reilly, 33, in critical condition, according to a statement from the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

“The woman was rapidly removed from the property due to safety concerns,” the statement reads. 

Ambulance staff performed advanced life support, “but tragically, despite their best efforts, nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead on scene a short time later,” the statement says.

No one else was injured in the attack.

Authorities seized the dog, which was determined to be an American Bulldog, “which has been destroyed,” West Midlands Police said in a statement.

“The death has been reported to the coroner and we'll assist them with their enquiries into Kelly's sad death,” the police statement reads.

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Her family wrote in a tribute that “Kelly was the most beautiful, kind-hearted young lady anybody could meet. She is going to be truly missed by everyone that she knew from family to friends.”

The family said in the tribute that they are "so broken and are finding it difficult to come to terms that they are never going to see her beautiful face again.”

"Kelly would light up any room she walked into. She had the biggest heart and cared for everyone around her,” the tribute said.

Kelly’s sister, Serena Parnell, set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs.

She went on to say the family believes Kelly had an epileptic seizure that "spooked" the family pet and led it to attack her.

Kelly “will be sadly missed by her family and friends,” she wrote.

Authorities are still investigating.

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