How toddler's dad saved his life in dingo attack that left him with fractured skull
A rescuer has revealed how a brave father snatched his toddler son from the jaws of a dingo which had dragged him from a campervan.
The 14-month-old boy’s parents awoke to him crying on Thursday night after the dingo entered their campervan on Queensland’s Fraser Island as the family slept.
Lifeflight pilot Frank Bertoli told reporters the father chased after the dingo as it attempted to drag the boy into the bush.
“He apparently grabbed around the back of the neck area and dragged him away,” he said.
The boy's father ran outside and fought off several dingoes to rescue his son from the dog's jaws.
“If it wasn’t for the parents fighting off the dingo he could have had much more severe injuries,” Mr Bertoli said.
The toddler has been airlifted to a Brisbane hospital with a fractured skull and cuts to his head and neck following the attack.
"The parents awoke with the toddler crying and heard the crying getting further away from the campervan," paramedic Ben Du Toit said.
Paramedics treated the boy for two deep cuts on his neck near the back of his head and some minor cuts on his head before he was airlifted to Hervey Bay Hospital about 3am.
He was found to also be suffering a fractured skull and at about 8am the boy was transferred to Queensland's Children's Hospital in Brisbane.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science told Yahoo News Australia in a statement the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was investigating.
“Rangers are increasing patrols and visiting campsites to remind visitors to be dingo aware and remain vigilant at all times,” a spokesperson said.
“Rangers are attempting to identify the dingoes involved. Once further details about the attack are known, QPWS will consider any other measures necessary to ensure visitor safety.”
How to prevent dingo attacks
Mr Du Toit warned visitors to Fraser Island to heed rangers' advice and stay away from dingoes.
"Just stay well clear of them, keep all food sources well locked up and away from dingoes, and never walk alone, always walk in groups," he said.
The DES spokesperson said adults should stay within arm’s reach of children and young teenagers.
People are advised to always walk in groups, camp in fenced areas where possible and never feed dingoes.
Food should be locked up and never stored in tents. People are also not advised to run as it can trigger negative dingo interaction.
The incident comes just months after a six-year-old boy was attacked by a dingo on the island.
Just weeks later in February, a mother and son were mauled by a pack of dingos nearby.
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