Dingo attacks boy at K’gari (Fraser Island) campground

The dingo that attacked a five-year-old boy on K’gari (Fraser Island) at the weekend will not be euthanised or relocated if identified, authorities say.

The dingo that attacked a five-year-old boy on K’gari (Fraser Island) at the weekend will not be euthanised or relocated if identified, authorities say.

Ranger in charge of natural resource management Linda Behrendorff said on Monday: “At this stage, we’ve got extra rangers in the area and we’re doing more ‘be dingo safe’ education.”

She said the attack happened in an unfenced section of the island.

“Unfortunately these children were playing in the sand, and one of them got up and walked away,” Dr Behrendorff said.

“They were within close proximity to their parents and the child was ambushed by a single dingo.

“These parents were keeping an eye on these children.

“It’s just if you’re camping in an unfenced area, be aware that (you’re in) a remote area where there are wild dingoes around.”

The boy was playing on the beach near his parents when he was approached by the dingo on Sunday afternoon.

The dingo jumped on him and started biting him, with the boy’s father racing to separate the pair, a statement from LifeFlight said.

On Monday, a Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service spokesperson said the boy was in a stable condition in hospital and “doing well”.

The incident happened near the Ocean Lake Campground about 4.10pm on Sunday, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

She said the young boy suffered five bite marks to his body.

Flight Critical Care doctor Melanie McNiff (left) treated the boy at the scene on K’gari (Fraser Island).

Flight Critical Care doctor Melanie McNiff, who treated the boy at the scene, said he suffered “quite a few” bites, some of which were deep, but there was no significant bleeding.

The boy’s injuries were mostly to his arm, back and head.

Ms McNiff said the boy was most likely saved from suffering more serious injuries because of the quick reflexes of his father.

The boy’s father, likely in his 40s, was close by to his son and three other children when the dingo attacked.

Dr McNiff said he was very quick to intervene.

“There was no warning that it was going to happen,” she said.

The boy was taken Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition and settled quickly on the flight alongside his mother.

“He was quite brave,” she said.

Flight Critical Care paramedic Santosa Broom also attended the scene about 1.5 hours after the initial bite, saying the boy was “still quite distressed” when he arrived, but quickly relaxed once in the helicopter.

A dingo on the beach on Fraser Island. (File picture)

The boy was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition, after the rescue helicopter was sent to Orchid Beach.

An island resident said the incident happened just weeks after Orchid Beach was fenced off to lock dingoes out of the township.

He said locals were told National Parks were setting out to trap and remove dingoes from the area.

The state government put $2 million towards building the fences around the popular tourism destination.

It is understood the fencing is not around the Ocean Lake Campground, the location of Sunday’s attack.

In a statement, the Department of Environment and Science said that Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers were providing assistance to the family and would investigate to determine which dingo was involved.

It is understood the dingo was not provoked.

Queensland Parks and Forests issued a warning in August that dingo relocation would start from December 3 and run for two weeks, until December 17.

“Wongari (dingo) activity may increase inside and outside the fence, on beaches and in unfenced camping areas,” the warning read.

“Rangers will increase patrols and monitor the impact closely.”

The region has been battling with dingo attacks for decades, after nine-year-old Clinton Gage was attacked and killed by two dingoes near Waddy Point in April 2001.

His death led to the culling of around 31 dingoes on K’gari Island – with the current average population of dingoes on the island being 200.

Last year, a two-year-old suffered deep puncture wounds in his legs, arms, neck, shoulder and head after an attack on Orchid Beach.

The toddler had wandered outside while his family was asleep and was approached by a dingo.