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The father of the backpacker found dead on K’gari surrounded by dingoes says autopsy results show water in her lungs, but not whether it entered before or after she was wounded by the dingoes.
The body of 19-year-old Canadian Piper James was found on 75 Mile beach on the World Heritage-listed sand island off the Queensland coast at about 6:30am on Monday.
Further testing was called for after an autopsy on Wednesday, but her father Todd James told Nine News her body could now be taken back to Canada.
He said the preliminary finding showed evidence of fluid on James’ lungs, but further testing was required to determine how it got there.
Police have said her body was “interfered with by dingoes”, and had previously offered three potential causes of death: James drowned before dingoes came across her remains; the dingoes attacked her and killed her; or she was chased into the water by the animals and drowned.
The backpacker’s death has sparked rampant debate over visitor safety on the island, with Hervey Bay Mayor George Seymour telling media dingo behaviour there was changing.
“We’re seeing more attacks in different ways, like dingoes following people into the water and attacking them,” he said following James’ death.
Each year, almost half a million people visit the pristine beaches and blue lakes of K’gari, which is a hotspot for four-wheel-driving and camping.
The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, which represents traditional owners, said it had long been pushing the Queensland government to cap visitor numbers, as well as closing the island for parts of the year.
“If you’ve got a government that’s more interested in the tourism economy … the island is going to suffer,” project officer Tessa Waia said.
James had been on a trip down the east coast of Australia with another Canadian, and was working on K’gari when she died.
A spokesperson for the Coroners Court of Queensland said the tests required to determine exactly how she died “may take some time” on Wednesday, following the autopsy.
Todd James told Nine he and Piper’s mother Angela had been invited to an Indigenous smoking ceremony on K’gari, which they plan to attend.
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