Canadian teen found dead, surrounded by 10 dingoes on Australian island: reports

The body of a 19-year-old Canadian woman was discovered on an Australian island reportedly surrounded by a pack of dingoes.

Police were called to the beach on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, around 6:35 a.m. local time due to reports that a woman was unresponsive. The island is located off of the Queensland coast. Police believe she “may have gone for a swim around 5 a.m.,” according to a news release . The woman was found north of the Maheno shipwreck , an ocean liner that was driven ashore during a cyclone in 1935. It is a popular tourist attraction.

“I can confirm that the dingoes had physically been in contact with the body,” said police Insp. Paul Algie, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported .

“There (were) markings on her body consistent with having been touched and interfered with by the dingoes.”

However, cause of death has yet to be determined.

The woman, who was has not been identified, was working at a backpacker hostel on K’gari. She had been living and working on the island with a friend for six weeks, said Algie, according to news.com.au .

“(Her friend) is very traumatized. She’s been supported by her friends at the backpackers’ (hostel) where they were working,” he said.

Two men were driving past the area and saw about 10 dingoes surrounding the body, the publication reported.

“We simply can’t confirm whether this young lady drowned or died as a result of being attacked by dingoes,” said Algie.

“K’gari is a wilderness area, dingoes are wild animals, and while they are very culturally and significant to the local First Nations people and to the people that live on the island, they are still wild animals and need to be treated as such.”

He said that authorities could not specify cause of death until the body was examined and urged anyone with information to come forward. He also warned people not to feed or go near the dingoes on the island.

The body was taken to Queensland on Monday, The Independent reported . According to ABC, police contacted the RCMP.

Global Affairs Canada and the RCMP did not immediately return National Post’s request for comment.

K’gari is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the largest sand island in the world.

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