THE family of a 19-year-old woman found dead and mauled by dingoes on a tourist beach are still waiting for answers.
Inconclusive autopsy results mean cops still don’t know if the Canadian tourist drowned or was killed by the wild dogs.
The teen had been backpacking with a friend around Australia, but her dream trip had a tragic end.
Piper James, 19, was found dead and surrounded by a pack of around 10 dingoes after going for a swim near the Maheno Shipwreck around 5am on Monday.
Her body was discovered an hour later, with serious wounds from dingo bites – yet her family still don’t know if the wild dogs killed her.
Although water was found in Piper’s lungs, investigators have warned it may take up to two months before tests confirm if the 19-year-old drowned or was mauled to death by dingoes, her dad told 7News.
Todd James, Piper’s father, posted a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook.
He wrote: “Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper.
“We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams.”
The 19-year-old had saved up for her dream trip for two years, working for British Columbia Wildfire Services.
Her dad said: “I loved hearing about and seeing the bonds and friendships she was developing as she grew into her beautiful self.
“She loved and was proud of her work at BC Wildfire Services.
“Piper would work hard so she could play hard.
“So many are going to miss you, my precious little baby girl. Maybe gone, but how can we ever forget you?”
Todd also shared a tear-jerking post from Marjorie Stricker, the mum of Piper’s best friend, with whom she had travelled to Australia.
Marjorie called Piper: “Strong, ambitious and determined, smart and funny.”
She wrote: “Piper loved deeply… she loved her family, her mom and dad and her grandparents, her dogs, and her friends.”
“She was an athlete, a dirt bike rider, a snowboarder, a dedicated seasonal firefighter, and devoted animal lover.
“Piper felt most herself when she was out in nature and was always up hiking, camping, snowboarding, surfing, chasing waves, and feeling the sand beneath her feet.
“The ocean called to her, just as adventure did.
“Turning 19 in Australia was part of their dream and they worked tirelessly to it make come true.”
The 19-year-old planned to come home after her trip to finish firefighting training.
Piper’s dad is delaying flying to Australia until he knows he’ll be able to say goodbye to Piper.
He said he wants to push for safety changes to prevent another tragedy on the island.
His daughter loved nature and animals and he said she would never have wanted a dingo cull, but he thinks something needs to be done on K’gari.
The island notorious for dingo attacks – a 10-year-old boy was dragged into the water by the wild dogs in 2023.
He was bitten and pulled under the water by the predator after walking along the water’s edge.
But the boy was miraculously saved when his brave 12-year-old sister intervened, and luckily got away without serious injuries.
Just weeks after the terrifying incident, two women were mauled by dingoes at the tourist hotspot, as one of the animals circled a group of beach-goers.
A French tourist was bitten on the bum by a dingo while sunbathing on the same beach.
Despite dingo attacks, shipwrecks and killer fauna, the island is so popular that tourists need to get a special permit to visit.
