The Coroners Courtroom of Queensland’s post-mortem on the physique of an adolescent discovered lifeless surrounded by wild dingoes at an iconic Australian vacationer spot has discovered bodily proof in line with drowning.
Canadian backpacker Piper James, 19, was on a vacation of a lifetime on Queensland’s Ok’gari (Fraser Island) when she went for an early morning swim on Monday. She by no means returned.
Her physique was found on the shoreline close to a preferred vacationer website, the SS Maheno shipwreck, surrounded by about 10 dingoes, a short while later.
The coroner has accomplished a preliminary evaluation and is now awaiting pathology outcomes to additional help in figuring out the reason for demise, a spokesperson for the Coroners Courtroom of Queensland stated in a press release on Friday.
This course of is predicted to take a number of weeks.
The post-mortem has discovered bodily proof in line with drowning and accidents in line with dingo bites, the spokesperson stated.
Pre-mortem dingo chew marks will not be more likely to have prompted rapid demise, the spokesperson stated.
There are intensive autopsy dingo chew marks.
There isn’t any proof that another particular person was concerned.
Dingo exercise
James’ household are devastated over the tragedy.
“Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic lack of our stunning daughter, Piper,” her father, Todd James, stated in a social media tribute.
“We’ll at all times keep in mind her infectious snort and her variety spirit. I admired her power and willpower to go after her goals.”
James had been residing and dealing at a backpackers on Ok’gari alongside a good friend from Canada for about six weeks.
Canadian backpacker Piper James, 19, was on a vacation on Queensland’s Ok’gari. Supply: Provided / Todd James
Rangers elevated patrols throughout the island following the tragedy, which got here simply weeks after a warning about aggressive dingo behaviour close to the place James was discovered.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Wednesday dominated out a vacationer ban on the island as authorities waited for the post-mortem outcomes.
Rangers warned of “heightened dingo exercise” within the space the place James died solely weeks earlier than the tragedy after studies of untamed canines ripping tents, approaching campers and stealing meals and property.
The warning stays in place on Ok’gari for the summer season vacation interval till January 31.
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