A Canadian backpacker found dead on an Australian beach surrounded by a pack of dingoes underestimated the danger of the island predator, her family says.
Piper James, 19, was working on Queensland’s K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she went for an early morning splash in the waves on January 19.
Her body was discovered surrounded by dingoes near a popular tourist site, the wreck of the SS Maheno, a short time later.
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An autopsy revealed that drowning was the most likely cause of death, but also uncovered evidence of “pre-mortem” dingo bites.
The government response has been swift, with six dingoes destroyed at the weekend and more animals showing “aggressive behaviour” to be culled in the coming days.
The teen’s father, Todd James, believes 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.
The father of Piper James, who was found dead on K’gari, says she wouldn’t want dingoes culled. Credit: Todd James, AAP
“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,” Todd 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.”
It was a tragic ending to a dream holiday for the teenager who had fallen in love with K’gari’s pristine white-sand beaches.
“She loved it there, she loved the beauty she found,” Todd said.
“We were worried she would try not come home. She loved Australia, she loved the people.”
Todd James has remembered the determination and kind spirit of his daughter who was found dead on a K’gari beach. Credit: Todd James/Facebook
Todd said his daughter and her friend, Taylor, who joined her on the backpacking adventure, were warned against swimming on K’gari, but were not afraid of the island’s dingo population.
“Piper and Taylor would go down to the beach every night and play music, like have a fire and play the guitar,” he said.
“They never use the sticks. One of the guys said that if the dogs come near you, kick sand in their face, and they’ll run.
“You didn’t have to worry about them — that was the culture — that you didn’t really have to worry.”
Confirmation that the dingo cull is underway is “heart-wrenching” but it would make the island a safer place to visit, Todd said.
“We never wanted any animals hurt. We never wanted a cull for the dingoes, and I don’t think Piper would be supportive of any animals being put to sleep or euthanised because of a mistake that she made to put herself in that vulnerable position,” he said.
“But on the same token, just to be honest, I recognise for the safety of the island, maybe that pack needed to be euthanised, but not because of Piper, but because of the way they’ve been behaving.”
As the family continues to grapple with their heartbreaking loss, plans are underway to travel to the island for a traditional smoking ceremony alongside the Butchulla Indigenous people of K’gari.
“I was lucky to have her. I always wanted to be a dad. Now it’s just like, how do you find a path where you’re not a dad?” Todd said.
“I know Piper looks down and she just wants her mum and dad to hold each other tight and be there for one another, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
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