A HERO mum has been left fighting for her life after trying to save her children from a pair of vicious pit bulls in a ten-minute struggle.

Kirstie Jane Bennard, 30, suffered serious injuries while attempting to shield her five-month-old son and two-year-old daughter.

The family dogs launched a savage attack on the youngsters, Hollace Dean and Lilly Jane, on Wednesday afternoon.

Their brave mum spent "over 10 minutes" grappling with the pit bulls in a bid to prise them away from the children.

Her husband Colby was not at home when the fatal attack by the family pets occurred near Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in Shelby County, Tennessee.

His uncle, Jeff Gibson, told USA Today that Kirstie had "put her body on top of Lilly’s to try and protect her after the attack started".

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But "both dogs started attacking her" as she tried to protect her daughter from the devil dogs.

Little Lilly and Hollace tragically succumbed to their injuries at the scene and were pronounced dead.

Kirstie was hospitalised in a critical condition at the Regional One Health Centre.

Jeff revealed she has been left with an "uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face".

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In a poignant Facebook post, he told how both her "arms and legs are bandaged/wrapped up completely."

Although her injuries won't leave "any permanent damage", the uncle said her "heart will never heal" following the horrific incident.

Jeff described her as a "f***ing hero" after battling the brutal pit bulls for over ten minutes.

He continued: "She never gave up trying to save these babies. Now all of us, family and friends, have to rally around both of them and show them how much they are loved.

"I don’t know if there can be a healing process but hopefully, we can ALL find a way to cope with this tragedy".

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said Kirstie's condition had been upgraded to stable in an update on Thursday.

A family friend told the Daily Mail the respiratory therapist is "hanging in there" while dealing with the deaths of her two children.

I can promise you those children were her world, and if there was any inkling of danger, she would have never had those dogs near her kids.

The county's Animal Control took the dogs into custody, and they have since been euthanised.

A pal of the distraught parents told Fox News they had owned the pit bulls, Cheech and Mia, for over eight years without any issues.

Kelsey Canfield said: "I can promise you those children were her world, and if there was any inkling of danger, she would have never had those dogs near her kids.

"Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead.

"That attack lasted longer than any one of us could have ever imagined. She was initially confused. She’s awake now, and she’s aware."

A GoFundMe page has been launched in support of the family and to help them "get back on their feet."

It has already collected a whopping $97,860, raising nearly ten times the original $10,000 goal in just four days.

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Organiser Debbie Harvey said the family were "amazed" by the generosity of well-wishers.

An investigation into the attack remains ongoing. It is unclear if any criminal charges will be brought.

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