Piper James: Queensland Coroner finds backpacker died from drowning after dingo attack

Backpacker Piper James’ cause of death has been revealed after she was found on an Australian beach surrounded by a pack of dingoes.

The 19-year-old Canadian had been working on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she was found dead on January 19 after going for an early morning swim.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Coroners Court has confirmed to The Nightly that how Ms James died had been determined by the assigned Queensland Health forensic pathologist and accepted by the investigating Coroner.

“Piper died as a result of drowning in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack,” the spokesperson said.

“The investigation into Piper’s death is ongoing, and no further information can be provided at this time.”

Ms James’ body was surrounded by about 10 dingoes when she was found, eight of which had reportedly since been euthanised.

Her father, Todd James, has previously said Piper made a mistake by not having a stick for protection while she was alone on the beach.

Tourists are warned not to run, walk alone and always carry a dingo safety stick - simply a long, sturdy object, such as a fishing rod, hiking pole, or PVC pipe - to deter dingoes.

“I believe that, maybe some dangerous dingoes saw her as something all by itself, as prey that’s harmed, splashing around, and maybe that got their attention to come out, and then Piper got pushed out into the ocean,” Mr James told AAP.

“I’ve heard that that’s kind of how they’ll do - they’ll corral their prey so they can’t come out, and they’ll push them out into the water, and unfortunately, wait for them to drown and bring them in.

“We will never know, and that’s the hardest part.”