The parents of Canadian backpacker Piper James will visit K’gari, where their daughter died. Photo / Supplied
The parents of Canadian backpacker Piper James will visit K’gari, where their daughter died. Photo / Supplied
The grieving parents of Canadian backpacker Piper James are preparing to visit K’gari, the Queensland island where their 19-year-old daughter lost her life.
Piper’s body was discovered on January 19 near the Maheno Wreck, surrounded by a pack of dingoes. While autopsy results suggest drowning as the likely cause ofdeath, bite marks on her body were present but not considered fatal.
Her parents, Angela and Todd James, will travel from their home in British Columbia, accompanied by friend Taylor Stricker, to attend a smoking ceremony with K’gari’s traditional owners next week before Piper’s remains are repatriated to Canada.
“It is now time to go to Australia to be with Piper, walk where she last walked, and try to feel the spirit of my baby girl in some way,” Todd James wrote on Facebook.
Her father advocates for stronger island safety measures and supports traditional owners' protection calls. Photo / Supplied
Piper’s funeral and celebration of life are scheduled for February 28 in British Columbia.
Her father also described the emotional toll of their loss.
“I am every emotion all the time. Fears I never imagined possible. I ache for her last breath. Piper you made us so proud. Love you so much. Not ready to say goodbye,” he said.
The young traveller had been in Australia since late October, finding work as a tour guide on K’gari.
Her father told the Vancouver Sun the couple spoke daily, and that he had previously cautioned her against swimming alone. “Unfortunately, I think she did let her guard down this time,” he said.
Piper’s mother described her daughter’s love of the island’s mornings.
“She just loved to start her day in the ocean watching the sun come up … because she just felt so free there,” Angela James said.
“She said it was the most amazing thing.”
On her last day, Piper had left the hostel at about 5am, telling friends she was going for a swim.
Piper's body was found near the Maheno Wreck; autopsy suggests drowning, with non-fatal dingo bites. Photo / Supplied
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli supported the decision, acknowledging the rangers acted independently.
“Imagine what would happen if they … hadn’t acted, and then there was a tragedy,” Crisafulli said.
“I certainly won’t be criticising them for that; they’ve taken an independent decision and I think they took the right decision.”
However, Todd James said that Piper would have supported traditional owners’ calls for stronger protections on the island, rather than culling dingoes.
He has also advocated for enhanced safety measures, including better staff training, mandatory carrying of dingo sticks, and a ban on children under 13 visiting K’gari.
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