BURSTThe Coroners Court of Queensland has confirmed that Piper James died from drowning after being attacked by a pack of dingoes in January.
The body of the 19-year-old backpacker from Campbell River was discovered on the morning of Jan. 19, surrounded by about ten dingoes on K’Gari Island, off the eastern coast of Queensland in Australia.
James “died as a result of drowning in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack,” a spokesperson for the Coroners Court of Queensland confirmed to the Mirror on Thursday (March 5).
“The investigation into Piper’s death is ongoing, and no further information can be provided at this time.”
Her cause of death was determined by a Queensland Health forensic pathologist.
Following the incident, Australian rangers euthanized about eight dingoes from the pack after observing aggressive behaviour.
Australia’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation stated in January that the pack was deemed an “unacceptable public safety risk.”
K’Gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is a World Heritage-listed site where approximately 200 dingoes are protected as a native species.
Wild dingoes are called wongari by the Butchulla people and are culturally significant.
The dingo cull sparked intense debate about the challenge of balancing visitor safety with the conservation of the endangered dingo population.
Issues were raised that culling about five percent of the island’s dingoes could affect the genetic diversity and long-term viability of the remaining population.
Visitors to the island are cautioned about the dingoes and advised to always carry a stick, as the wild dogs can appear from nowhere and move quickly. They have also been known to bite and maul people.
James had arrived on the island to work at a local business after beginning a months-long backpacking trip in October 2025.
A service for James was held in Campbell River on Feb. 28, where she was remembered as curious and bold.