Boy, 2, ‘extremely lucky’ not to be more seriously hurt after being bitten multiple times by Fraser Island dingo

Audio from the paramedic who attended the scene after a toddler was bitten multiple times by a dingo on Fraser Island has been released, and it details how the young boy was “extremely lucky” it wasn’t far more serious. LISTEN HERE

Queensland Ambulance Service has released audio from the paramedic who attended the scene after a two-year-old boy was bitten by a dingo on Fraser Island.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the boy was flown to Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition following the attack about 7.30am on Saturday.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO BELOW

He suffered superficial injuries to his thigh, buttocks, head and shoulder.

A paramedic that responded to the attack said the young boy was ‘extremely lucky’ to have not suffered more severe injuries, given it was a lone dingo attack, and not a part of a pack which is more typical.

The attack occurred after the boy managed to leave the house where the family was staying, near Orchid Beach while members of the house were still sleeping.

Paramedics take the boy, 2, into the RACQ Lifeflight helicopter. Picture: RACQ Lifeflight

Fraser Island’s duty paramedic, who gave his name as Lee, said the two-year-old boy had walked outside unsupervised when the attack happened.

“The two-year-old male child had managed 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 outside and had been approached by one of the dingoes,” he said.

Residents of nearby homes were the first to come across the boy who had suffered deep puncture wounds and injuries to several areas.

We're aware of this incident & rangers are investigating. We'll provide a further update later today. https://t.co/Y5BW6AQor9pic.twitter.com/9C6iL329ww

— Queensland Environment (@QldEnvironment) April 16, 2021

The boy’s injuries include bite marks to the left arm and leg, neck, face, shoulder, and a laceration to the back of the head.

“None of these wounds were life-threatening but some of them were quite deep puncture marks,” he said.

QAS paramedics met the boy and his family when they arrived at the airstrip this morning.

The Department of Environment and Science said it was aware of the incident and rangers are investigating.

“We will make decisions regarding the management of the dingo once we’ve been able to ID it and in collaboration with our important stakeholders - particularly the traditional owners, the Butchulla People,” a department spokesperson said .

The department wished to remind everyone to be ‘dingo safe’ by walking in groups, never feeding the animals, and securing rubbish as well as fish and bait.

Rangers and emergency services wish to remind families to always keep children within arms reach when at Fraser and locations known for Dingo encounters.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Department of Environment and Heritage Protection confirmed that the property at Orchid Beach was a residential property and not belonging to one of the tourist accommodation sites.

Staff from a local business at Orchid Beach reported witnessing the LifeFlight Rescue chopper land around 9am this morning before airlifting the boy to Budaberg.

Originally published as Boy, 2, ‘extremely lucky’ not to be more seriously hurt after being bitten multiple times by Fraser Island dingo