A 19-year-old Canadian woman was found dead Monday morning on K’gari — the island formerly known as Fraser Island — in Queensland, Australia, prompting an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances of her death.
The woman’s body was discovered around 6:35 a.m. local time by two men driving along the island’s eastern shoreline near the Maheno shipwreck, a well-known landmark on the world’s largest sand island. About 10 dingoes, Australia’s native wild dogs, were seen around her body when it was located, police said.
Queensland Police Inspector Paul Algie told reporters authorities are exploring all possibilities, including whether the woman drowned or was killed in a dingo attack, but officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death. A post-mortem examination is expected to provide clarity. “At this stage it’s too early to confirm how the young lady lost her life,” Algie said.
The victim, who had been working at a local hostel on K’gari for about six weeks, had told friends she was going for an early-morning swim before she disappeared.
K’gari, a World Heritage-listed destination that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, is home to a protected population of dingoes. Park officials and wildlife experts have warned visitors about the risks of approaching or feeding the wild dogs, noting that dingoes have grown increasingly bold around humans in recent years.
In response to the tragedy, authorities have temporarily closed nearby campsites, increased ranger patrols, and installed additional warning signs to alert visitors about dingo activity. Canadian consular officials are offering support to the victim’s family as investigations continue.
