Heroic six year old boy saves friend from vicious pit bull attack by dragging dog off victim

  • Vincent Barrick saved friend Juan Argumedo, also six-years-old, from a vicious pit bull attack
  • The boy suffered puncture wounds to his arms - but the dog also tore the flesh off his legs to the bone
  • Mr Barrick likely saved the life of his friend

By Ryan Gorman

PUBLISHED: 00:42 EST, 25 November 2013 | UPDATED: 04:06 EST, 25 November 2013

A quick-thinking six-year-old Utah boy saved his friend from being attacked by a pit bull.

Vincent Barrick saved friend Juan Argumedo, also six-years-old, from certain doom by grabbing on the collar of the vicious mutt until their screaming caused startled adults to run and help.

The two boys came in contact with the dog while cutting through a neighbor’s yard as they had often done in the past, family members told KUTV.

Innocent victim: Juan Argumedo was viciously attacked by the pit bull, but saved by friend Vincent Barrick

Innocent victim: Juan Argumedo was viciously attacked by the pit bull, but saved by friend Vincent Barrick

‘We heard some screaming, blood-curdling screams,’ proud grandfather Kevin Barrick said.

He ran through his St. George backyard towards the commotion and saw his tiny grandson pulling back the huge dog while another young boy was trapped underneath.

‘I could see Vincent standing there holding up on the dog's collar, pulling, almost standing on his tippy toes, pulling as hard as he could,’ said the family patriarch.

Kevin Barrick did not realize the extent of the Mr Argumendo’s injuries until he too tried to pull the cruel canine off him young boy.

He's a hero!: Mr Barrick pulled the malicious mongrel off his friend as best he could until adults arrived

He's a hero!: Mr Barrick pulled the malicious mongrel off his friend as best he could until adults arrived

Bad dog!: This is the pit bull that attacked an innocent young boy

Bad dog!: This is the pit bull that attacked an innocent young boy

‘Juan was being pulled up with him,’ said the grandfather. ‘He still had a hold of Juan's face.’

Kevin Barrick punched the dog in the face, causing it to run away, but the real horror didn’t set in until paramedics arrived – the dog had torn the flesh off the innocent boy’s leg all the way to the bone.

 

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‘When they cut his shorts off from him and revealed his leg his mom about passed out and the paramedics said 'oh, good Lord,’ Kevin Barrick told the station.

The innocent child also suffered puncture wounds to his chest, face and head as well.

The victim’s father is upset his son spent hours in surgery, and will require several more procedures, but is also grateful that young Vincent Barrick didn’t back down from the malicious mutt.

Where it all went down: This is the backyard Vincent Barrick ran through to help his grandson pull the blood-thirsty bully off Mr Argumendo

Where it all went down: This is the backyard Vincent Barrick ran through to help his grandson pull the blood-thirsty bully off Mr Argumendo

‘We got lucky that Vincent made that decision,’ the father told the station.

The blood-thirsty pit bull is under a mandatory 10-day quarantine, KUTV reported. It is not clear what it’s ultimate fate will be.

Both adults agree the attack could have been deadly had the brave young boy not acted.

‘My grandson said that the dog kept trying to drag Juan underneath the motor home,’ Kevin Barrick explained. ‘If he could have got Juan there he would have shook him back and forth like a rag doll and shredded him.’

Luckily for everyone, Vincent Barrick is a hero.

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People say it's not the breed it's the owner.... I agree with that to a point... But no matter how horrible the owner I've never heard of a Golden Retriever attacking an innocent 6 year old and biting to the bone!!! This breed has to go!

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Glory to God Vincent Barrick. Adjust that crown that is presently on your head, you deserve it!

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They cut through someone's yard and now they are trying to make the dog seem responsible? Where are the parents? Perhaps they should keep their kids out of people's yards!

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They cut through the dog's yard and then got attacked - well there's a surprise, but if the dog had been determined to attack, no way a six year old could stop it. Even adult males have failed to stop attacking pit bulls from continuing an attack. The boy, though brave, was stupid. The dog could easily have been further angered by his actions and just turned on both of them.

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When will we ban these dogs?

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brave boy vincent well done x

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Sounds like he really did save his friends life. Actually, I think they're both heroes for getting out of that alive. Someone buy them a huge pile of toys, please.

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The dog's owner said the kids were told they could take the shortcut through his fenced yard so long as they stayed close to the fence. He told them the dog was kept chained and the chain would not allow the dog to get close to the fence. Did the dog get off his chain, or did the kids not pay attention to the warning?

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The owners are as vile as the dogs. This is a big problem now in the UK with children being killed and maimed by dogs kept by uneducated, uncultured, uncivilised owners (who else would have one?) who think it's 'cool'.

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Its rarely the dogs fault regardless of breed. Pit bulls were breed to protect, children included. It's the owners who think they are status dog that give breeds bad names.....walking through the city center on Saturday I saw at least 2 bully breeds with there owners just hanging around. Why???

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Brave boy!

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