In a startling new development in the tragic death of 19-year-old Canadian backpacker Piper James on Queensland’s K’gari (Fraser Island), police have zeroed in on eyewitness testimony from a local beachgoer who claims he witnessed highly unusual dingo behavior just minutes before James was discovered fatally injured on January 19, 2026.

The witness, a 42-year-old regular at Seventy-Five Mile Beach near the Maheno Shipwreck, told Queensland Police he was walking his dog along the shoreline around 6:15 a.m. when he spotted a pack of approximately ten dingoes—more than typically seen together—acting in a way he described as “completely out of character.” Speaking to investigators and later in a brief media statement, the man said the animals were unusually bold and coordinated, circling an area near the water’s edge with what he called “purposeful aggression.” “They weren’t scavenging or wandering like normal,” he said. “They were moving together, almost hunting. I’ve never seen them behave like that before.”

Moments after he passed the pack, the witness heard a brief scream and what he believed was “a scuffle.” He did not immediately investigate, assuming it was another beachgoer dealing with a minor incident. When he returned along the same stretch less than ten minutes later, he found James lying unresponsive on the sand, partially clothed, with visible bite marks and severe trauma to her limbs and torso. The witness immediately called emergency services.

James, from Campbell River, British Columbia, had been camping on the island and reportedly set an alarm for 5 a.m. to watch the sunrise and swim alone. Her body was discovered shortly after 6:30 a.m. by two drivers on the beach. Preliminary autopsy results released January 20 confirmed drowning as the primary cause of death, with multiple dingo bites occurring both pre- and post-mortem. However, the bites were not deemed immediately fatal, raising questions about what caused her to enter the water in distress.

The beachgoer’s account has now become central to the investigation. Police and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are focusing on whether the dingoes exhibited predatory pack behavior—something rarely documented on K’gari, where dingoes are protected and habituated to humans but generally avoid direct attacks. The witness described the animals as “fixated” on a specific spot near the dunes, suggesting they may have pursued or harassed James before she fled into the surf.

Six dingoes seen near the body were euthanized shortly after the incident as a public safety measure, a decision that drew criticism from Indigenous elders and conservationists who argue the animals were simply behaving naturally in the presence of food or distress. The Queensland Government has defended the action, citing the need to prevent further risk while the investigation continues.

Piper James’s parents, Todd and Angela, have spoken publicly about their grief, describing their daughter as “vibrant, kind, and fearless.” They have requested a traditional smoke ceremony on K’gari with local Butchulla elders before her remains are repatriated to Canada. The family has also urged travelers to respect wildlife boundaries and never swim or walk alone in dingo habitats, especially at dawn or dusk.

Detectives continue to review CCTV from nearby campgrounds, witness statements, and James’s phone (recovered nearby but damaged by saltwater). No evidence of foul play has emerged, but the unusual dingo behavior has shifted the inquiry from a presumed accidental drowning to a potential predatory encounter.

K’gari remains one of Australia’s most popular ecotourism destinations, but this tragedy has reignited calls for stricter visitor education and dingo management protocols. As the investigation deepens, the beachgoer’s chilling observation—“I’ve never seen them behave like that before”—continues to haunt investigators and the public alike, a stark reminder of how quickly nature can turn deadly on one of the world’s most beautiful islands.