The autopsy of Piper James, whose body was found on K’gari surrounded by a pack of dingoes, has found “physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites”.
The Canadian backpacker’s trip to Australia ended in tragedy when the 19-year-old was found dead on a beach on Monday on the world heritage-listed island formerly known as Fraser Island off the Queensland coast.
A postmortem into her death began on Wednesday, with police saying a coroner would examine whether she drowned in dangerous waters off the island’s eastern beaches or was killed by the wild dogs – as well as other “potential possibilities”.
A Queensland coroners court spokesperson said on Friday night that the coroner had completed a preliminary assessment and was now awaiting pathology results “to further assist in determining the cause of death of Piper James”.
“This process is expected to take several weeks,” the spokesperson said.
“The autopsy has found physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites. Pre-mortem dingo bite marks are not likely to have caused immediate death. There are extensive post-mortem dingo bite marks.”
The statement from the court concluded: “There is no evidence that any other person was involved.”
It had been speculated that James could have entered the water to escape dingoes before drowning.
K’gari is home to about 150 human inhabitants and a population of dingoes genetically distinct from those on mainland Australia.
Violent dingo and human interactions have been increasing in recent years. In 2023, a pack of three dingoes rushed and bit a woman who was jogging along a beach. She ran into the ocean to escape.
A dingo was shot and killed with a spear gun in 2024, and several others were put down after attacking people.
Piper’s father this week posted a series of pictures on social media of his daughter with friends and family enjoying the Canadian outdoors on inflatable rafts, snowboards, dirt bikes, buggies and fighting fires – she “loved and was proud” to have worked for the British Columbia wildfire services.
Other pictures showed Piper with a friend from Canada who was travelling with her through Australia. The friend had been working with her at a backpackers’ hostel for six weeks prior to her death and was left “highly traumatised” by it, Queensland police said.
“Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper,” Todd James wrote.
“We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams.”
