Dingo danger: Timeline of attacks on Fraser Island

Amid growing concerns dingoes on the world’s largest sand island have become habituated, we look at how the number of attacks, particularly on children, have increased in recent years.

The death of Clinton Gage remains the most tragic example of dingo attacks on Fraser Island but inrecent years, concerns about history repeating itself have continued to escalate. It follows a number of serious dingo attacks on children on Fraser Island and comes amid concerns people are feeding and interacting with the animals, causing them to become habituated.

Here is a timeline of the most concerning incidents in the past few years.

August, 2012

Despite suffering extensive injuries to his arms, legs and head, a German tourist bitten by dingoes said he would go back to Fraser Island.

The tourist, who wanted to be know just as Justin, a 23-year-old laboratory worker from Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany, had been in Australia for nine months on a working holiday.

Fraser Island dingoes are active over the peak holiday period.

He and his friends arrived on Fraser Island on a tour from Rainbow Beach, and the group was shown a video warning them about the island‘s dangers, including dingoes.

January, 2019

A pack of four dingoes “wanted blood” as they mauled six-year-old Michael Schipanski and tried to drag him off.

The boy’s father Mark Schipanski exclusively told The Courier-Mail how it took “just 10 seconds” for the attack to unfold at the World Heritage-listed tourist destination.

His brave son told him, “I did what you told me, Dad. I stopped, but they just kept coming for me”.

March, 2019

A senior paramedic described the mauling injuries suffered by a 10-year-old boy in a dingo attack on Fraser Island as the worst he has ever seen.

The boy and his mother were holidaying from France with their family and sightseeing at One Tree Rocks north of Eurong Beach where 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.

April, 2019

A boy injured in a dingo attack on Fraser Island was treated for a skull fracture after being dragged from his family’s camper.

The toddler was assessed at Hervey Bay Hospital and treated for puncture wounds to his head and neck, as well as a skull fracture.

Hunter Allister was attacked by a dingo on Fraser Island when camping with his parents Luke & Sarah Allister – Photo Supplied Ch 9

The 14-month-old has been flown to the Queensland Children‘s Hospital for additional paediatric and specialist support about 8.10am.

December, 2019

The mother of a child bitten by a dingo on Fraser Island tried to protect her kids, using a boogie board to fend it off.

Fraser Island ranger Jenna Tapply said the family was doing everything right when the dingo came over to them.

The mum was walking with her two children along Eastern Beach about 6pm when the attack happened.

December, 2019

A statement from the department said any decision to humanely euthanise a high-risk dingo was selective, precise and only considered as a last resort.

February, 2021

A nine-year-old boy was attacked by a dingo on Orchid Beach, Fraser Island.

A paramedic treated the boy for a “very minor injury”.

“No further assistance or transport is required,” a statement from Queensland Ambulance Service said.

The boy was on the beach with his family when he was attacked by the dingo, causing injuries to his legs.

February, 2021

A Fraser Island resident was nipped by a dingo that came onto her property.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are investigating the incident, which happened at Orchid Beach.

The incident happened in February when a dingo entered the property, approached her and nipped her on the knee.

April, 2021

A two-year-old child was attacked by a dingo while his family slept, according to a paramedic who treated the boy at the scene.

Identified as Lee, Fraser Island‘s duty paramedic said the toddler walked outside unsupervised when the attack happened.

The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has flown a toddler to hospital, after he was attacked by a dingo on Fraser Island, early this morning. It's believed the child, who was holidaying with his family, had been playing outside a house, when neighbours heard a commotion. They reportedly went to investigate and saw a dingo attacking the toddler., They intervened and emergency services were called in. Picture RACQ LifeFlight

“The two year old male child had managed to somehow to get out of the house that the family was staying at while the other members of the family were in the house asleep and he had gone for a little wander and had been approached by one of the dingoes,” he said.

May, 2021

A four-year-old boy was bitten by a dingo at Orchid Beach on Fraser Island.

It came just weeks after a toddler was injured in an attack at the same spot after wandering from his family‘s holiday accommodation at night.

The Fraser Coast Chronicle revealed the latest incident occurred when two boys, aged four and five were approached by a dingo near a car parked outside a home at Orchid Beach.