A boy has been bitten on the leg by a dingo on Fraser Island after he was faced with a pack when he raced up a sand dune in Queensland.
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The 6-year-old was returning to a campsite with his family during their holiday when the attack happened about 6pm on Saturday.
RACQ LifeFlight Rescue air crewman Dan Leggat said the incident occurred following an afternoon swim.
“The family had finished swimming when the young boy said he wanted to race up a sand dune," he said.
“Unfortunately, when he got to the top, there was a pack of four dingoes.
“One of the dingoes attacked the boy and bit him on the leg."
Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics treated and stabilised him for transport before he was airlifted from the Eurong helipad.
He was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition with cuts and puncture marks on his lower leg.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said the boy was receiving treatment, including antibiotics and could remain in hospital overnight.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said his heart went out to the parents of the boy.
"It's obviously a very traumatic thing for them to experience," he said.
"I'm glad to hear that the six-year-old is being treated and has good care with our health staff in Hervey Bay."
Mr Bailey said there would be an investigation into the incident.
The Department of Environmental Science website stated Fraser Island dingoes were protected by law and roamed all over the island, with dingo-deterrent fencing being placed in most areas.
"From time to time, dingoes may come close and some encounters can turn to tragedy. Stay alert and stay calm," it said.
"Some children have been bitten by dingoes that have wanted food or were excited by the children running and playing."
The website urged parents to stay within arm's length of their children at all times and avoid letting children run ahead.
"Children are vulnerable because their size does not intimidate a dingo as much as an adult person. Even small teenagers are at risk," it said.
"Sadly, dingoes that bite people must be euthanised, as they have lost their fear of people."
In 2018, a dingo was euthanised on Fraser Island after biting a woman and a child in two separate incidents.
The animal also acted aggressively towards another woman.
- with Felicity Caldwell
