Koala rescued from Australian bushfires dies - video

The marsupial, named Lewis, had to be put down because of the severity of its burns

A badly-burnt koala which was rescued by a brave passerby as it crawled through a bushfire in Australia has died.

Rescuer Toni Doherty gave the koala, named Lewis, water and wrapped it in a blanket after finding the marsupial injured on the Oxley Highway west of Wauchope in New South Wales.

The 14 year old koala was taken to the nearby Koala Hospital Port Macquarie for treatment for burns to his feet, chest and stomach, according to local media.

But its burns were too severe and it had to be put down after showing no sign of improvement.

Deadly bushfires have ravaged vast swathes of eastern Australia, and wildlife carers estimate the blazes have killed hundreds of koalas this month in New South Wales alone.

An online fundraiser for koalas has topped A$1.6 million (Dh3.9m) on Thursday, making it Australia's biggest campaign on the GoFundMe platform this year.