Lewis the koala put to sleep in hospital after horrific bushfire burns
The 14-year-old buck who made international headlines after footage emerged of him coming out of the NSW bushfires with horrifying burns, has died.
Lewis the koala was rescued by a heroic grandmother who carried him in her arms and the heartbreaking moment sent hearts racing around the world.
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has shared sad news on Tuesday afternoon, saying staff made the decision to put him to sleep.
“We placed him under general anaesthesia this morning to assess his burns injuries and change the bandages,” the hospital said in a post at about 2.30pm.
The hospital said Lewis’ burns became worse “and unfortunately “would not have gotten better”.
UPDATE: Lewis, the koala who went viral in this daring rescue video, has died at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital https://t.co/RshwIOyvyn #RIPLewis pic.twitter.com/nsdOVVAI0U
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 26, 2019
“The Koala Hospital’s number one goal is animal welfare, so it was on those grounds that this decision was made,” it read.
$1.66 million in donations streamed in for the hospital after Lewis’ sad rescue went viral.
Grandmother Toni Doherty was filmed ripping the shirt off her back near Long Flat in NSW to save the wailing koala.
The 14-year-old suffered burns to his feet, stomach and chest.
Named “Ellenborough Lewis” after Toni’s grandchild, or Lewis for short, he had been receiving care by long-term home care volunteer and koala hospital supervisor, Barb.
“Barb hand feeds Lewis a single leaf at a time, with feeding taking up to an hour a feed,” the hospital said on Friday.
“Lewis’s prognosis is guarded as he sustained significant burns however he is receiving the best possible care.”
Lewis was just one of 31 koalas brought into the hospital from fire-grounds in the surrounding area, and an estimate of 350 koalas was killed as a result of the horrific bushfires.
There are grave concerns from wildlife rescuers that there is a “much worse” toll of about 1000 koalas across NSW, Queensland and South Australia who were killed.
Toni’s husband Peter Doherty told Nine they “were there this morning” when Lewis died.
“We are naturally very sad about this, as we were hoping he’d pull through but we accept his injuries were severe and debilitating and would have been quite painful,” Mr Doherty said.
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is part of a not-for-profit organisation established in 1973.
They operate with four staff members and rely on the help of 140 volunteers.
According to its website, the hospital has a treatment room, eight intensive care units, six outdoor intensive care units and 33 rehabilitation yards.
In total, they handle between 200 and 250 koalas every year.