An elderly couple has been injured trying to rescue their dog from a goanna attack in north Queensland.
The 72-year-old man and his wife were walking their pet close to home at Shute Harbour, near Airlie Beach, around 3.30pm when the reptile attacked, then suddenly turned on them.
The goanna latched on to the man’s right arm and leg, and then bit the woman’s leg.
‘The man suffered a very serious laceration and possible fracture of his right forearm as well as severe bleeding from his leg wound,’ RACQ CQ Rescue said.
He was airlifted by a rescue helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital, while his wife was taken to Proserpine Hospital for treatment.
Rescuers have described the incident as a ‘horrific and freak ordeal’.