This Australian Woman Was Hailed a Hero for Rescuing Koala from Bushfire

An Australian woman by the name of Toni Doherty is being hailed a hero for saving a small Koala who was crossing the road and heading towards the burning trees in Australia. 

When Toni spotted the innocent animal she sprung into action to save the creature. She quickly ran towards the Koala and wrapped it in her own shirt. She then poured some water to cool the burns. 

“He just went straight into the flames, and I just jumped out of the car and went straight to him,” Doherty told Australia’s Nine News.

The baby Koala can be seen crying and screaming throughout the video. The dramatic footage of the rescue is doing the rounds on social media. 

 

She took the Koala to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital where it is under treatment. The Koala has severe burns in its chest, stomach, and feet. It has been bandaged and been given antibiotics. The marsupial was wrapped in blankets and was provided with an oxygen mask. The fighter was seen munching some eucalyptus branches placed by his bed in the hospital. 

Toni Doherty was named the creature ‘Lewis’ after one of her grandsons. She visited him at the hospital on Wednesday. Speaking to Australia’s Nine News channel about the rescue, Toni Doherty said, “Just natural instinct. I knew if we didn’t get him down from the tree, then he would have been up there amongst the flames.”

According to medical authorities at the hospital, Lewis’ condition remains serious and it has 50-50 chances of survival. If it does survive it would need a lot of looking after.  

More than 350 Koalas are feared to be dead by the bushfires in New South Wales. The areas that have been affected are the prime habitat and breeding spaces for these animals. Dogs have been put on the job to sniff out the marsupials for rescue purposes. It is being feared that the fires are only going to get worse due to soaring temperatures and strong winds.