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Toddler rescued after dingo drags him from Fraser Island campsite Toddler dragged by dingo from Fraser Island campsite has fractured skull
(about 7 hours later)
A toddler has escaped with cuts to his neck and head after his father snatched him from a dingo’s jaws on Queensland’s Fraser Island. A toddler is in hospital with a fractured skull and cuts to his head and neck after a dingo dragged him from his bed on Queensland’s Fraser Island.
Paramedic Ben Du Toit said the family was camping in a remote area of the island in the state’s south-east on Thursday night when a dingo entered their campervan and bit the toddler’s neck. The boy’s family were camping in a remote area of the island – known as K’gari to the local Butchalla people – on Thursday night when two dingoes entered their campervan as they slept.
The boy started crying as the dog began to drag him away into the bush. Paramedic Ben Du Toit said one of the dingoes bit the toddler’s neck and began dragging him away into the bush.
“The parents awoke with the toddler crying and heard the crying getting further away from the campervan,” Du Toit said.“The parents awoke with the toddler crying and heard the crying getting further away from the campervan,” Du Toit said.
The boy’s father ran outside to fight off the dingoes, and rescued his son from one of the animal’s jaws.
Paramedics treated the boy for two deep cuts on his neck near the back of his head, and some minor cuts on his head, before he was flown to Hervey Bay hospital about 3am on Friday.
Paradise restored: K'gari native title success the start of a new story for Fraser IslandParadise restored: K'gari native title success the start of a new story for Fraser Island
The father ran outside and snatched his child from the dingo’s jaws before chasing off several other dingoes and calling triple zero. He was also found to be suffering a fractured skull and about 8am the boy was transferred to Queensland’s children’s hospital in Brisbane.
Paramedics later treated two deep cuts on the toddler’s neck near the back of his head and some minor cuts on his head at the Eurong beach resort. He remained there in a stable condition on Friday afternoon.
The toddler was airlifted to Hervey Bay hospital, but was then found also to have a fractured skull and at about 8am the boy was transferred to the Children’s hospital in Brisbane. The environment department brought in extra rangers to investigate the attack and patrol the island.
Du Toit warned visitors to Fraser Island – known as K’gari to the local Butchalla people – to heed rangers’ advice and stay away from dingoes. Principal ranger Daniel Clifton said dingo specialists were also attempting to identify the animals.
“Just stay well clear of them, keep all food sources well locked up and away from dingoes, and never walk alone, always walk in groups,” he said. “We’re out there briefing campers ... making sure they’re aware of the incident,” he told reporters.
Clifton said when dingoes interacted closely with people and had access to food, their behaviour changed.
“That does result in increased aggression and dingo activity,” he said.
He did not rule out having the responsible animals killed if they could be identified.
“[The decision] is taken with all the information gathered together, and in consultation with the Butchulla traditional owners,” he said.
Clifton said although dingo attacks on Fraser Island were uncommon, people should remain aware.
“Don’t approach dingoes, don’t feed dingoes, keep your children really close, especially if you’re not in a fenced area,” he said.
It was the third dingo attack on Fraser Island this year.
In February, a nine-year-old boy and his mother were admitted to hospital after a dingo pack chased them down and mauled them.
The previous month a six-year-old boy was bitten on the legs while camping with his family in the same area as the toddler who was attacked on Friday.
QueenslandQueensland
WildlifeWildlife
AnimalsAnimals
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