Girl attacked by dingo on Fraser Island

A young child was bitten multiple times and held underwater by a dingo before her frantic family was able to pull it off during an attack on Fraser Island.

A child has been flown off Fraser Island after being attacked and held underwater by a dingo on Monday afternoon.

It‘s believed the six-year-old tourist was swimming in a shallow lagoon at Waddy Point about 4pm when the dingo tried to grab onto her.

The animal reportedly held her underwater for a few seconds before nearby family members were able to get the dingo off her.

She sustained multiple minor bites to her head and fingers.

A 6-year-old girl was flown off Fraser Island on Monday.

The rescue helicopter was called into action about 4.40pm, landing soon after at a nearby helipad on the island.

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics helped the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue doctor and QAS flight paramedic assess the patient for injuries before she was flown, with her mother as escort.

The girl was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition.

A spokesman from the Department of Environment and Science said Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers provided assistance to the family and are investigating the incident.

“It is believed the wongari was an untagged male,” he said.

“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service extends its sympathies to the girl and her family, and wishes her a speedy recovery.

“Visitors and residents on K’gari are reminded to keep children under constant supervision.”

Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150.

The Waddy Point beachfront camping area had only reopened three days prior to the attack after increased dingo, also known as wongari, activity.

The Lifeflight helicopter landing at Hervey Bay Hospital. Photo: Channel 7

On March 1, the Department of Environment and Science announced the unfenced camping area would be closed until March 31.

“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers advise a pack of wongari are currently frequenting the area between Waddy Headland and Orchid Beach,” the statement read.

Since 2019 there have been nine reported instances of dingoes attacking people, all of which happened on K‘gari (Fraser Island).

A 6-year-old girl was flown off Fraser Island on Monday.

The latest attack happened on the first day of the Easter school holidays and follows an attack on a boy in the lead up to Christmas on the island last year.

The boy was playing on the beach near his parents on December 18 when he was approached by the dingo.

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

A Fraser Island dingo.

The boy suffered five bite marks to his body.

In 2021, 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.

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.