Toddler Mauled By Dingo, Father Fights Off Animal To Save Son

A toddler was hospitalized after being mauled by a dingo that dragged the baby from a camper trailer as his family slept in Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. The 14-month-old child suffered a fractured skull and cuts to his head and neck but his life was saved as his "hero" father saved him from the animal's jaws during the attack.

The boy’s parents, who were camping at Eurong Beach, woke to the sound of their son’s cries, which were “becoming more distant,” according to the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) LifeFlight Rescue. The father left the van to find that the animal had already managed to carry the child some distance away. There were several other dingoes lurking nearby. The father fought with one of the dingoes and rescued his son from the animal’s jaws. The family immediately called emergency services for help.

Paramedics treated the boy for two deep cuts on his neck near the back of his head, and some minor cuts on his head. The child was later flown to Hervey Bay hospital from where he was transferred to Queensland’s children’s hospital in Brisbane for treatment for his fractured skull.

Rescue pilot Frank Bertoli praised the father’s quick response, and said the parents’ actions likely saved the boy's life.

“(The boy) was apparently grabbed around the back of the neck area and dragged away,” Bertoli told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “If it wasn’t for the parents fighting off the dingo he could have had much more severe injuries.”

Bertoli explained how the dingo was able to carry out its sneak attack.

“I think he made his way under the canvas to get into the camper trailer,” he said. “It’s pretty horrific to hear something like that come over the phone and we just wanted to get there to be able to help... They said that the main dingo was surrounded by others.”

Following the incident, the local environment department sent in extra rangers to investigate the attack and patrol the island.

Principal ranger Daniel Clifton said dingo specialists were also attempting to identify the animals who carried out the attack.

“We’re out there briefing campers ... making sure they’re aware of the incident,” he told reporters, according to the Guardian, adding he did not rule out having the responsible animals killed if they could be identified. He also warned people about dingoes.

“Don’t approach dingoes, don’t feed dingoes, keep your children really close, especially if you’re not in a fenced area,” he said.