The Coroners Court of Queensland's autopsy on the body of a teenager found dead surrounded by wild dingoes at an iconic Australian tourist spot has found physical evidence consistent with drowning.
Canadian backpacker Piper James, 19, was on a holiday of a lifetime on Queensland's K'gari (Fraser Island) when she went for an early morning swim on Monday. She never returned.
Her body was discovered on the shoreline near a popular tourist site, the SS Maheno shipwreck, surrounded by about 10 dingoes, a short time later.
The coroner has completed a preliminary assessment and is now awaiting pathology results to further assist in determining the cause of death, a spokesperson for the Coroners Court of Queensland said in a statement on Friday.
This process is expected to take several weeks.
The autopsy has found physical evidence consistent with drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites, the spokesperson said.
Pre-mortem dingo bite marks are not likely to have caused immediate death, the spokesperson said.
There are extensive post-mortem dingo bite marks.
There is no evidence that any other person was involved.
Dingo activity
James' family are devastated over the tragedy.
"Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper," her father, Todd James, said in a social media tribute.
"We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams."
James had been living and working at a backpackers on K'gari alongside a friend from Canada for about six weeks.
Rangers increased patrols across the island following the tragedy, which came just weeks after a warning about aggressive dingo behaviour near where James was found.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Wednesday ruled out a tourist ban on the island as authorities waited for the autopsy results.
Rangers warned of "heightened dingo activity" in the area where James died only weeks before the tragedy after reports of wild dogs ripping tents, approaching campers and stealing food and property.
The warning remains in place on K'gari for the summer holiday period until January 31.
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