A 19-year-old woman tragically lost her life after an XL Bully dog attacked her inside a Bristol, England flat last month. Morgan Dorsett, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was pronounced dead on February 26, 2025, following severe bites to her face and neck.

The inquest into Dorsett’s death began on March 24, with Coroner’s officer Alexis Camp sharing details of the incident. “Morgan received significant dog bites to her face and neck, resulting in her sad death,” Camp reported at the hearing. Paramedics declared Dorsett deceased at the scene in the Hartcliffe area of Bristol.

A post-mortem examination provided a provisional cause of death as dog bites to Dorsett’s neck. Her mother, Marie Smith, identified her body at the mortuary in Flax Bourton, near Bristol.

The dog involved, a male XL Bully named Prince, was taken into custody and euthanized following the event. An autopsy later confirmed that the animal was part of the banned XL Bully breed, which was outlawed in the UK in 2023 due to its involvement in fatal incidents.

Senior coroner for Avon, Maria Voisin, opened the inquest but indicated it would not proceed immediately. “Because of the pending criminal investigation, I am not going to list this. It will be on a date to be fixed,” Voisin stated at the hearing.

The coroner’s court was informed of family concerns regarding the police investigation. Statements from Dorsett’s family, police, and paramedics will be compiled, along with a thorough post-mortem and toxicology report, for the final inquest hearing.

Following the incident, authorities arrested a man and a woman in their twenties on suspicion of owning a banned dog breed and being responsible for a dog dangerously out of control, resulting in a fatality. Both have been released on conditional bail as the investigation continues.

Neighbors reported hearing screams on the night of the incident. Some witnesses described seeing the dog’s owner emerging from her home covered in blood, shouting: “They killed my dog.” The dog was described as “big, butch and brown and white” in color by witnesses.

The police described the incident as “incredibly rare” and stated that a full investigation is underway to determine the complete circumstances surrounding Dorsett’s death.

In heartfelt tributes, Dorsett’s stepfather, Matthew Travis, called her a “loveable rogue” with a “cheeky smile” that would win him over. Her mother, Marie Louise, expressed gratitude for the messages of support during this challenging time.

Friends of Dorsett’s family have created a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral and memorial expenses. The fundraiser has already raised more than $10,500, far exceeding the initial $5,300 target. Organizers stated the funds would alleviate the family’s financial burdens, including funeral costs, allowing them to grieve in their own manner and time.

Sharon Harris, who organized the crowdfunding effort, described Morgan as “a truly beautiful girl.” Harris added that Morgan was “strong, kind and so full of life.”

Some neighbors have suggested that Dorsett might have suffered a seizure, causing her to fall on the dog, which then attacked her, though this has not been confirmed by officials.

The XL Bully breed was added to the Dangerous Dogs list in England and Wales in 2023 after a series of fatal attacks.

The full inquest hearing will be scheduled once the criminal investigation is complete and all necessary reports have been prepared.