New details of Canadian teen backpacker’s death on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) revealed
Updated ,first published
A Canadian backpacker was attacked by dingoes before possibly drowning off Queensland’s K’gari coast, a coroner’s report has revealed.
The preliminary report from the Queensland Coroner’s Court also concluded that no one was involved in the death of Piper James. He was found surrounded by dingoes at 6.30am on Monday.
Piper’s father, Todd James, said early Friday evening that autopsy results showed he had water in his lungs. The medical examiner’s report also states that the animals bit him extensively after he died.
More tests were ordered following an autopsy on Wednesday, but he told Nine News his body could now be flown back to Canada.
A Coroner’s Court spokesman confirmed the probable cause of death was drowning but said further tests were needed over the next few weeks to determine the exact cause of death.
“The Coroner has completed the preliminary assessment and is now awaiting pathology results to further assist in determining Piper James’ cause of death. This process is expected to take several weeks,” the spokesperson said.
“The autopsy found physical evidence of strangulation and injuries consistent with dingo bites. Ante-mortem dingo bite marks are unlikely to cause immediate death. Post-mortem dingo bite marks are abundant.”
“There is no evidence that anyone else was involved.”
Police had previously confirmed that his body had been “interfered with by dingoes” and offered three potential causes of death: James had drowned before dingoes stumbled upon his remains; dingoes attacked and killed him; or he was chased by animals and thrown into the water and drowned.
The backpacker’s death sparked fierce debate about visitor safety on the island, and Hervey Bay mayor George Seymour told media dingo behavior there had changed.
“We’re seeing more attacks in different ways, such as dingoes following people in the water and attacking them,” he said following James’ death.
A popular spot for four-wheel driving and camping, almost half a million people visit K’gari’s pristine beaches and blue lakes each year.
The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, which represents traditional owners, said it had long pushed the Queensland government to limit the number of visitors and also closed the island for parts of the year.
“If there is a government that is more interested in the tourism economy… the island will suffer,” said project officer Tessa Waia.
James was on a trip along the east coast of Australia with another Canadian and was working on K’gari when he died.
A Queensland Coroner’s Court spokesman said on Wednesday following an autopsy that the tests needed to determine exactly how he died “may take some time”.
Todd James told Nine that he and Piper’s mother Angela had been invited to an indigenous smoking ceremony in K’gari that they planned to attend.
