Authorities investigate if rogue Fraser Island dingo was responsible for previous attacks

Authorities are investigating whether the rogue dingo who mauled a boy and his mother on Fraser Island was the same animal responsible for the two other most recent attacks on the sandy paradise.

AUTHORITIES are investigating whether the rogue dingo who mauled a 10-year-old boy and his mother on Fraser Island was the same animal responsible for the two other most recent attacks on the sandy paradise.

The grandmother of the young boy, who received minor leg injuries during the attack, said she had tried to bat the dingoes away. “The dingo, they want to eat us — I beat the dingo,” she said.

“I come back to take away the second dingo, the first dingo come back.”

Fraser Island locals yesterday told The Courier-Mail they believed the same dingo that led the attack on the boy was to blame for two earlier serious incidents, questioning why authorities had not acted sooner.

Boy, woman suffer serious leg injuries in dingo attack

The boy and his mother were airlifted to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after the attack. Picture: Supplied

The boy and his mother, both French nationals, last night remained in hospital after being set upon by a pack of dingoes on Thursday afternoon.

Former first responder David Anderson said the 10-year-old was lucky to be alive after receiving a 30cm laceration to his leg that came dangerously close to severing his femoral artery.

The Fraser Island local said he believed one of the dingoes, identifiable by its tag, was involved in an attack on a six-year-old boy last month and a third serious incident before that.

He questioned why the aggressive dingo had not been euthanised the first time. “This could have been a tragedy,” he said. “The dingo is tagged, it’s easily identified. This should not have happened.”

A widespread cull of dingoes on Fraser Island is not being considered by the State Government. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Anderson said it had been 18 years since the death of Brisbane boy Clinton Gage on the island in April, 2001 and history could have repeated itself.

The boy, his mother and grandmother, holidaying in Queensland from France, were sightseeing at One Tree Rocks north of Eurong Beach when it’s understood they spotted a pack of dingoes and ran to their car in fear.

At least two of the dingoes gave chase, knocking the boy to the ground. The boy’s mother was injured as she tried to intervene.

Paramedic Andrew Eason, who attended the scene, said the boy, had suffered bites to his left arm, serious lacerations to his legs and a wound on his right cheek.

“The child was in shock,” he said. “The mum was being very strong for her son, even though she had injuries.”

The boy and his mother were airlifted to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition where the last night remained.

Fraser Island paramedics Andrew Eason and Sara Cullen. Picture: Alistair Brightman

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman yesterday confirmed investigations were continuing into the attack and the history of the dingoes involved.

The Department of Environment and Science said one dingo was last night euthanised by rangers, while the search for the second attacking dingo was continuing.

State Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said a widespread cull of the dingo population on the island was not being considered.

“I have asked the department to look at any improvements to messaging around dingo safety to make sure visitors and the dingoes can coexist harmoniously on K’gari,” she said.

This latest incident comes three months after six-year-old Michael Schupanski was attacked while holidaying on the island with his family.

Michael was running up the hill with his mum when a pack struck.

He suffered severe puncture wounds to both his legs.

Additional reporting Jessica Lamb and Patrick Billings