Updated ,first published
A Canadian backpacker was attacked by dingoes before likely drowning off the coast of Queensland’s K’gari, a coroner’s report has revealed.
The Coroners Court of Queensland’s preliminary report has also concluded there was no one involved in the death of Piper James, who was found surrounded by dingoes 6:30am on Monday.
Piper’s father Todd James said earlier on Friday evening that autopsy results had shown water in her lungs. The coroner’s report also says the animals bit her extensively after she had died.
Further testing was called for after an autopsy on Wednesday, but he told Nine News her body could now be taken back to Canada.
A Coroners Court spokesperson confirmed that drowning was the likely cause of death, but that further tests had to be completed over the next several weeks to fully determine cause of death.
“The Coroner has completed a preliminary assessment and is 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 injures 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.
“There is no evidence that any other person was involved.”
Police had earlier confirmed her body was “interfered with by dingoes”, and had offered three potential causes of death: James drowned before dingoes came across her remains; the dingoes attacked her and killed her; or she was chased into the water by the animals and drowned.
The backpacker’s death has sparked rampant debate over visitor safety on the island, with Hervey Bay mayor George Seymour telling media dingo behaviour there was changing.
“We’re seeing more attacks in different ways, like dingoes following people into the water and attacking them,” he said following James’ death.
Each year, almost half a million people visit the pristine beaches and blue lakes of K’gari, which is a hotspot for four-wheel-driving and camping.
The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, which represents traditional owners, said it had long been pushing the Queensland government to cap visitor numbers, as well as closing the island for parts of the year.
“If you’ve got a government that’s more interested in the tourism economy … the island is going to suffer,” project officer Tessa Waia said.
James had been on a trip down the east coast of Australia with another Canadian, and was working on K’gari when she died.
A spokesperson for the Coroners Court of Queensland said the tests required to determine exactly how she died “may take some time” on Wednesday, following the autopsy.
Todd James told Nine he and Piper’s mother Angela had been invited to an Indigenous smoking ceremony on K’gari, which they plan to attend.
