Body of 19-year-old Canadian woman found on K’gari surrounded by dingoes

The body of a teenage tourist woman has been found surrounded by dingoes at a popular Queensland tourist destination.

The 19-year-old Canadian national went for a swim at a beach north of Maheno Wreck on K’gari about 5am on Monday.

She was found unresponsive about an hour later by passers-by.

A small pack of dingoes were near the woman’s body and had come into contact with her, Queensland Police Inspector Paul Algie said.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, with investigators considering whether she may have drowned or been attacked.

Algie said the woman had only been on the island for a short time and was working at a backpacker business.

He said there was no suggestion she was with anyone else or that she was unwell.

“She was a young, healthy Canadian woman who was enjoying the trip,” he said.

“It’s really a very large tragedy.”

Algie acknowledged the incident may concern potential visitors but stressed there was no ongoing risk to public safety.

“I would say that it is a wildlife environment and people need to take care when they’re over on the island,” he said.

While the cause of the woman’s death is unclear, there have been a spate of dingo attacks on the island in recent years.

In October 2025 a six-year-old boy was bitten while on a beach with his grandfather. He was airlifted to hospital with head injuries and bite wounds.

That same year in May, a nine-year-old boy was attacked by a dingo at Yidney Rocks. The animal was later euthanised by authorities.

Dingoes are protected in Queensland National Parks as a native species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation was contacted by 7NEWS.com.au.