Shattered family break silence after Canadian backpacker Piper James was found dead surrounded by dingoes on K’gari

The grieving parents of a Canadian backpacker found dead at a Queensland tourist hotspot surrounded by a dozen dingoes have broken their silence.

Piper James, 19, had been camping on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, near the Maheno Shipwreck when she told her friends at about 5am on Monday that she was going for a swim.

Less than an hour later, two people in a 4WD driving along the beach found her body on the shoreline with multiple wounds. Authorities are yet to determine whether she drowned or was killed by dingoes.

Hailing from Campbell River in British Columbia, Ms James had been on a trip of a lifetime with her best friend Taylor since arriving in Australia six weeks ago.

Social media posts showed the pair taking selfies at Sydney‘s Bondi Beach, surfing at Manly, partying with friends in Cairns, and enjoying idyllic Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.

It’s understood Ms James had recently landed a job working with backpackers on K’gari and was camping near Woralie Rd at Seventy Five Mile Beach when tragedy struck.

Todd and Angela James penned a heartbreaking tribute early Wednesday as they shared dozens of photos of their daughter, including Piper setting off on her backpacking holiday and enjoying a recent AC/DC concert at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

Mr James opened up on the moment his daughter had told him about her plans to travel to Australia, and revealed she had made the playful comment that he couldn’t stop her because she was 18.

‘Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper,’ he began.

+6
View gallery

Photos of Piper James’ final weeks on an Australian backpacking adventure have emerged

+6
View gallery

Piper James attended an ACDC concert at Sydney’ Accor Stadium weeks before she died

‘We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams.’

Angela added that ‘life will never be the same’.

Mr James recalled his daughter’s reaction after telling her he supported her plans to travel overseas.

‘Lol, because I’m 18, and you can’t stop me!’ he recalled.

‘Mostly, I loved hearing about and seeing the bonds and friendships she was developing as she grew into her beautiful self.

A keen motocross rider, Ms James also loved her work at BC Wildfire Services.

‘Piper would work hard so she could play hard,’ her dad wrote.

‘So many are going to miss you, my precious little baby girl. Maybe gone, but how can we ever forget you? The pain…RIP my baby.’

+6
View gallery

Ms James had been on a trip-of-a-lifetime holiday with her best friend Taylor (pictured in Sydney recently)

+6
View gallery

It’s understood Ms James had recently landed a job working with backpackers on K’gari

Police are still working to determine whether Ms James drowned or was mauled by a pack of dingoes during her early morning swim.

A post-mortem will be conducted on her body in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Traditional owners of K’gari have accused the Queensland government of ignoring safety warnings for more than 25 years, amid fears that a dingo cull is imminent.

The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation claimed it has repeatedly urged authorities to cap visitor numbers on K’gari and periodically close the island to tourists to prevent dingo attacks.

‘Personally I can’t stress enough that K’gari needs to be closed down during certain periods, and sometimes those periods will come in at peak seasons for visitors,’ project officer Tessa Waia told the Courier-Mail.

‘If you’ve got a government that’s more interested in the tourism economy than the wongari (dingo), the island is going to suffer.’

Canadian authorities confirmed they are assisting Ms James’ family.

‘We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones,’ a Canadian Global Affairs spokesman said.

+6
View gallery

Todd James (left) has penned a heartbreaking tribute to his daughter (right)

+6
View gallery

Police are still working to determine whether the Canadian tourist drowned or was mauled by a pack of dingoes during her early morning swim on K’gari

‘Canadian officials are providing consular assistance to the family.’

Close friend Brianna Falk said her ‘heart dropped’ upon hearing the gruesome news about the girl she had sat beside in English class just three years ago

‘We had so many plans and she was so young,’ she told the Canadian Press.

‘You never think that it is going to be somebody that you know, let alone one of your closest friends,’ she added.

Ms Falk was at work when early reports emerged and began to fear the worst, knowing her friend was in Australia.

The nightmare became reality when a mutual friend confirmed that Ms James’s body was the one found near the Maheno Shipwreck.

‘She was a good person. She never did wrong by anybody,’ Ms Falk said.