Dingoes Drag Away a Sleeping Toddler

Two dingoes attempted to drag away a 14-month sleeping toddler, a little close to midnight, leaving him with a fractured skull, two deep lacerations to the back of his neck and head and several minor lacerations to the back of the scalp. The toddler’s parents were woken up by his cries. The father found him meters away from their trailer. The incident took place on Fraser Island off Queensland’s coast.

Paramedic Ben Du Toit who answered the parent’s call for help said the dingoes had dragged the toddler several meters away from the campervan. Toit said the dad got to investigate and found the dingo dragging the toddler away. There were several dingoes near the vicinity. The child was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition but was transferred at 8 am to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. Frank Bertoli, the life-flight pilot said if it hadn’t been for the parents quick thinking, the toddler would have had more serious injuries.

The Environment Department believes the two dingoes entered the camp trailer. It said the main dingo was surrounded by others. “Patrols have been increased and rangers will be visiting campers to remind them of the dangers.” The rangers recommend staying within arms length of children, walking in groups, locking up food away from tents.