Girl attacked by dingo, held underwater, on K’gari Fraser Island

The young girl suffered serious injuries in a dingo attack on Australia's Fraser Island. photo / File

A little girl has been rushed to hospital after a dingo attack on Fraser Island.

The six-year-old girl was bitten on her head and suffered puncture wounds around her ear, as well as minor cuts to her hands while swimming at Waddy Point Beach on Monday afternoon.

According to RACQ LifeFlight, the dingo “held her underwater for a few seconds before nearby family members were able to get the dingo off her”.

A rescue helicopter was flown to Fraser Island, also known as K’gari, shortly after the attack that occurred at about 4pm.

She was treated by paramedics at the scene, before being flown to Hervey Bay Hospital in central Queensland.

The girl is in a stable condition.

K'gari Fraser Island asks tourists to be 'dingo safe' when visiting. Photo / Frankie Dixon, Unsplash

Fraser Island is known for its dingoes, with warnings to tourists to be “dingo-safe” when visiting.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) urges families to keep children within arms reach to avoid attacks as dingoes can appear out of nowhere and move quickly.

“Never let children sleep in a tent or camper trailer without adults or wander away on tracks, lakes and beaches,” warning information reads.

Though QPWS says that dingoes generally go about their lives and stay clear of people, they occasionally come close to people and “some encounters can turn to tragedy”.

The last fatal dingo attack occurred in 2001, when a small pack killed a nine-year-old child.

Dingoes that attack humans must be put down as they have lost their fear of people according to QPWS.