The nine-year-old suffered horrific facial and leg injuries when a neighbour’s two American bulldogs savaged her for six minutes last October.
Now IT worker Mark Keenan, who rushed to her rescue, has been nominated by her mum Tracy Cox in our 2014 search for Great Scots. Our annual awards, sponsored by BT, salute Scotland’s unsung heroes.
Broagan spent six weeks at the Royal Hospital For Sick Children in Glasgow before being allowed home in time for Christmas.
She went back to St Rose of Lima Primary School in January and has astonished doctors by her recovery.
The only sign of the attack is the plaster cast on her right leg, which was broken, and a little scarring on her left eye.
Yesterday, Broagan hailed Mark’s bravery when she met him for the first time. She said: “I can’t thank him enough. He’s my hero. I’ll never forget what he did and will always be grateful to him for saving me from the bad dogs.”
Mark raced from a nearby flat when he saw the animals turn on Broagan, who had been playing tig with pals. The 25-year-old kicked the powerful dogs to get them to release the terrified youngster.
She suffered horrific wounds to her face, a broken right leg and serious bite wounds to her left leg.
Mark, from Cranhill, Glasgow, was visiting his toddler daughter Keira and her mother Nicole Dunn, 24, at the time.
Their first-floor home overlooks the back court in Gartloch Road, Garthamlock, Glasgow, where the attack took place.
Broagan’s mother Tracy, 38, said: “There’s no doubt Mark saved my daughter’s life. We really can’t thank him enough. It was courageous – the dogs could have turned on Mark.”
Last month, Broagan’s family moved from their flat in Gartloch Road to make a new start.
Supermarket worker Tracy added: “She’s very happy in her new home. Broagan has settled back in to school and her friends have been great. She’s okay with smaller dogs but is still scared of big dogs.”
While she still has scarring on her left eye, there are no plans to carry out surgery.
Tracy added: “It will be up to her in the future if she wants it. The doctors think that healing will take its course as she grows older.”
Mark, who is thrilled to be nominated for a Great Scot, said: “It was lovely to meet Broagan. It looks as though she has made a great recovery and I’m delighted.”
The two dogs were destroyed three days after the attack and the owner and his wife have been charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
(Scottish Daily Record - July 5, 2014)
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