A coroner in Australia has confirmed that a dingo attack was involved in the death of a British Columbia woman earlier this year.
According to reports, the Coroner’s Court of Queensland said Piper James, who was from Vancouver Island, died after drowning following injuries sustained during the attack.
“Piper died as a result of drowning in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack,” the coroner said in a statement on Thursday.
James was working on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island when the incident occurred. She reportedly went for an early morning swim on January 19 before her body was discovered on a nearby beach.
Authorities said she was found surrounded by a pack of dingoes.
An autopsy later found evidence of “pre-mortem” dingo bites. Investigators determined that drowning was the most likely cause of death following the injuries.
“The investigation into Piper’s death is ongoing, and no further information can be provided at this time,” the authorities said.
K’gari is known for its population of wild dingoes, which are native to Australia.