Toddler snatched from dingo's jaws in stable condition

A toddler rescued from a dingo's jaws after it dragged him from his bed on Fraser Island in Queensland is recovering after surgery.

A dingo

A toddler has been saved after being dragged out of his campervan by a dingo on Fraser Island. (AAP)

A toddler dragged from his bed by a dingo on Queensland's Fraser Island is recovering in hospital with a fractured skull and cuts to his head and neck, following surgery.

The 14-month-old boy's family were camping in a remote area of the island in the state's southeast on Thursday night when two dingoes entered their camper and dragged him by his head 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," Mr 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. The boy was flown to Brisbane's Children Hospital.

He is in a stable condition after surgery for multiple puncture wounds to his neck and skull, his parents said in a statement on Saturday.

The Environment Department brought in extra rangers to investigate the attack and patrol the island.

Principal Ranger Daniel Clifton said dingo specialists were also attempting to identify the animals.

"We're (also) out there briefing campers ... making sure they're aware of the incident," he told reporters.

Mr Clifton said when dingoes interact closely with people and have access to food, their behaviour changes.

"That does result in increased aggression and dingo activity," he said.

Euthanasia of the responsible animals hasn't been ruled out.

"(The decision) is taken with all the information gathered together, and in consultation with the Butchulla traditional owners," he said.

Mr 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.

This 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.

It followed a January attack on a six-year-old boy who was bitten on the legs while camping with his family in the same area as the toddler attacked on Friday.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world