K’gari backpacker death: Parents to travel to Australia for farewell ceremony

The grieving parents of a teen who died in the K’gari dingo tragedy are travelling to Australia to attend a farewell ceremony near where she was found.

Todd James says it has taken time to come to terms with daughter Piper’s death. Credit: AAP

The devastated parents of a woman found dead surrounded by dingoes say they are finally ready to visit Australia as they prepare to say goodbye to their beloved daughter.

Canadian backpacker Piper James’ family will arrive in Queensland early next week for a ceremony held near where her body was discovered, as they come to terms with the tragedy.

Ms James, 19, was working on K’gari, formerly Fraser Island, when she went for an early morning swim on January 19.

Her body was found a short time later, surrounded by at least 10 dingoes near a popular tourist site, the SS Maheno wreck.

An autopsy uncovered evidence of “pre-mortem” dingo bites but said drowning was the most likely cause of death.

The teen’s family in Canada were invited to travel to Australia for a traditional smoking ceremony alongside the Butchulla Indigenous people of K’gari.

Touched by the gesture, the teen’s parents, Todd and Angela Jame,s along with a family friend, are expected to arrive on Tuesday.

Mr James said it had taken some time to decide when to travel to Australia as they tried to come to terms with the loss.

“As much as I wanted to be there by her side, it’s been hard, but it will happen,” he told AAP on Monday.

“I should have already been there. I feel like that, but my wife couldn’t …. and we needed to be together through this.

“I said, ‘we go when you’re ready. We’ll go together. So that is our intent.”

Mr James has confirmed their travel plans on social media.

“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 – we will return with Piper back home to Canada,” he posted on Facebook.

They are then set to return to Canada and hold a “beautiful celebration” of their daughter’s life with family and friends at a February 28 funeral service.

Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation told AAP it had reached out to the family and offered the ceremony invite in a letter on behalf of the Traditional Owners.

The ceremony will be held on the beach near where Ms James was found.

The Butchulla people hold a deep spiritual connection to the land and when a life was touched by tragedy On Country “it goes through our people, our ancestors and our spirit of K’gari as herself”, the letter said.

“It is part of our culture and responsibilities … to honour the life and ensure the spirit churning is peaceful,” it said.

“This ceremony is important in cultural protocols for us and a way to bring calm to the land, acknowledge her spirit and offer the healing to all … who are connected.

“May peace surround you and may your spirits be held safely in the light.”

Rangers increased patrols across K’gari – the world’s largest sand island – following the tragedy.

Six dingoes have since been destroyed after showing “aggressive behaviour”.

More than $36,000 had been raised by Friday in a GoFundMe campaign set up by a James family friend.

Her mother Angela James spoke to Nine News from Canada and said she believed her daughter set her alarm to get up and catch the sunrise to phone them first thing in the morning when the tragic accident took place. Picture: Nine