A woman found deceased in Australia on Jan. 19 has been confirmed as being from Campbell River.

On social media, those who knew 19-year-old Piper James called her adventurous, independent and a powerhouse. James was found deceased on Mon. Jan. 19 local time on a K’gari beach, off Australia’s east coast.

While autopsy results are not in, James was found surrounded by a pack of dingoes. Local authorities outlined three possible scenarios: drowning, being driven by the dingoes into the surf then drowning, or being attacked by the pack.

In Oct. 2025, James left on a multi-month backpacking trip with a friend and had recently arrived and started working at a local business on K’gari Island.

In a public Facebook post, James’ father Todd James wrote, “I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams … Mostly, I loved hearing about and seeing the bonds and friendships she was developing as she grew into her beautiful self.”

James and her family had moved to Campbell River in 2021, where she finished her schooling at Carihi Secondary. She had worked with the B.C. Wildfire Services for two years, saving money for her dream trip to Australia. An avid skier, motocross rider and anything to do with the ocean, James had plans to obtain her pilot’s license on her return home.