A girl who was left covered in blood in a dog attack has now recovered to the point her scars are barely visible.

Sophie Evans, seven, was left with part of her skull exposed after the brutal mauling by a German Shepherd in January.

Her big brother Jack, nine, witnessed the attack and feared he would not be able to stop her from dying.

She had suffered bite wounds all over her face and scalp when her mum came to pick her up after hearing of the attack in Wombwell, South Yorkshire.

Lyndsey, 34, said: ‘To this day, I cannot believe how brave she was when I arrived, she just held out her hand and said “mummy, I’m OK”.’

Her mum, who is a receptionist in a hospital A&E, said: ‘I’m used to seeing people on their worst days but nothing can prepare you for being on the other side as a parent.’

She has now thanked the ‘magic hands’ of surgeons who worked on her for four-and-a-half hours to treat her wounds.

Sophie was able to be discharged from hospital just two days later and was back at Kingsoak Primary School within three weeks.

Mrs Evans said: ‘All the staff who helped us were absolutely amazing, words will never be enough to explain how forever grateful we will be.

‘On the worst day of our lives, they made sure we were all looked after and reassured.

‘Thanks to the magic hands of the emergency department team, her scars are barely noticeable today. They fixed my Sophie up and she is perfect to us once again.’

The family has now devoted themselves to fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity’s £4.5 million appeal to build a new emergency department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Jack has already begun the effort, running his first-ever 10K alongside his dad – security officer Rob, 37 – and raising £800 towards the appeal.

David Vernon-Edwards, director of The Children’s Hospital Charity, said the emergency department was built to see a maximum of 32,000 patients every year but last year saw almost 57,000.

In addition to the expanded waiting room and clinical space, the redevelopment will also build a dedicated space for children with mental health issues or learning difficulties and a separate area for adolescents.

Mr Vernon-Edwards said: ‘We’re so thankful to Sophie’s family for sharing their story and to her brother, Jack, for his fantastic fundraising.’

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