A 16-year-old Aboriginal youth is in hospital in southern Queensland amid claims he was bashed, threatened with a gun and dragged by a rope around his neck earlier this week.

It I alleged the attack happened after he tried to break into a farmhouse near Goondiwindi.

Goondiwindi investigators are waiting to question the boy about the alleged incident on Tuesday evening.

Police say it appears two men and two teenagers were trying to rob a farmhouse when they were chased by the owners of the property.

It is understood three of them escaped, but one of the teenagers was caught trying to swim across a local river.

Police are investigating claims a rope was tied around his neck and he was dragged up and down the river bank before being bashed and threatened with a double barrel shotgun.

The boy is being treated for injuries to his head, chest and upper body, including what is believed to be rope burns to his neck.

Investigators have interviewed the property owner and his sons.

They have also spoken to several people at the Toomelah mission.

No-one has been charged.