Police launch investigation after woman found dead at K’gari

Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old Canadian woman found unresponsive on a beach at K’gari. Photo / 123RF

An investigation has been launched after a 19-year-old Canadian woman died at a popular tourist spot on Queensland’s coast.

Shortly after 6.30am Monday, a woman was found unresponsive at the beach north of Maheno Wreck at K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island.

Police believe the woman was a 19-year-old Canadian woman, who had gone for a swim at the beach about 5am.

The woman died at the scene.

Police Inspector Paul Algie said it wasn’t known if the woman drowned or if she was attacked by a pack of dingoes.

“We’re investigating at the moment as to whether she has drowned or whether she has been attacked,” he said. “We simply don’t know.”

Witnesses said they saw at least 12 dingoes around the woman’s body at the waterline.

She sustained significant wounds to her body, the Courier-Mail reports.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

“We may not know until a post-mortem as to the actual cause of death,” Inspector Algie said.

“We’ll obviously throw every resource we can at it to get some resolution for her family.”

She is yet to be formally identified, but is believed to be from Canada.

Friends told the Courier-Mail the woman had been living at K’gari for some time and was working at a backpacker’s hostel.

“Police are appealing to anyone who may have relevant information, including dashcam vision or witnessed anything to come forward,” a police statement read.

Online, K’gari-based influencers Indefinite Leave said they were “saddened” by the news.

They urged people to not jump to conclusions about the woman’s death.

NewsWire has contacted the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation for comment.

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