Koala Seen Rescued From Australian Bushfire Passed Away

Lewis, the koala who shot to internet fame after being saved from massive wildfires that engulfed the Australian state of New South Wales last week, has died.

In a Facebook post, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital decided to euthanize Lewis on Tuesday after inspecting his wounds. It became clear that the marsupial's injuries were not going to improve, the hospital wrote.

"[Our] number one [intention] is animal welfare, so it was on those [areas] that this decision was made," the hospital said.

Lewis had already been receiving "much pain relief." The animal hospital notified Saturday that it was considering putting the 14-year-old koala to sleep if it was determined that "his injuries and his pain are no longer treatable and tolerable."

Port Macquarie Koala Hospital placed Lewis under general anesthesia to examine his burns injuries and change the bandages. The koala suffered burns to his feet, legs, arms, and hands.

The doctors deemed that Lewis' burn injuries could get better. However, the specialists discovered that Lewis' burns worsened, and unfortunately would not have gotten better.

The animal hospital said a few days ago that it did not keep koalas alive if it meant them suffering too much pain and discomfort.

Devastating to hear reports that Lewis the koala rescued here was unable to overcome his injuries from the #NSWbushfire and has sadly died.

 pic.twitter.com/bmv2eqwWyT — WWF UK register to vote! (@wwf_uk) November 26, 2019

ALSO READ: Australian Woman Saves Koala From Bushfire 

Dramatic rescue

Lewis' touching story went viral after a grandmother named Toni Doherty was filmed by a 9News cameraman hurrying into raging bushland in Port Macquarie to rescue the koala.

Doherty named the marsupial after one of her seven grandchildren.

Toni and Lewis were reunited Thursday at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where Lewis was clothed in blankets and hooked up to an oxygen mask.

Peter Doherty, speaking on behalf of his wife Toni, told 9News.com.au, that they were "naturally very sad" about what happened, as they were hoping Lewis pull through. 

"We would [constantly yield] to the recommendation of the staff at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital," Peter added.

Meanwhile, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has received more than $1.6 million in donations to help treat injured koalas than have been affected by the bushfires in New South Wales.

The hospital started a GoFundMe page last month, intending to reach $25,000, but has raised more than 65 times its first target.

The additional money would help to repopulate koalas in the wild through establishing a breeding program to ensure the survival of the marsupials.

The wildfire in Australia has been particularly destructive to the country's koala population. More than 350 koalas, according to animal experts, are feared to have been killed by the fires. 

Experts worry that frequent disastrous bushfires and deforestation could endanger Australia's koala population. International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species said koalas are now considered endangered.