The father of a teenage backpacker whose body was found surrounded by dingoes on a Queensland beach has revealed he warned her to never swim alone before she left on her trip.

Todd James said 19-year-old Piper was a “determined” young woman who had intended to travel from their home in Canada to Australia whether her father approved or not.

James said he was on board with the trip, but there had been warnings.

“We’ve talked about it — never to go swimming by herself,” he told local outlet Vancouver Sun.

“So far into her trip, she hasn’t let her guard down.

“Unfortunately, I think she did let her guard down this time.”

Piper was unresponsive and surrounded by dingoes when she was found at Maheno Wreck on K’gari about 6am on Monday.

It is understood she went for a swim about 5am, but whether she drowned or was killed by the dingoes — or some other cause of death — is still being investigated.

James has remembered his daughter’s determined words to him before she headed off on her travels to Australia.

“I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams,” he wrote on Facebook.

“She was glad I was on board for her trip to Australia … she said, ‘Because I’m 18, and you can’t stop me’.”

James said he spoke to his daughter daily via phone while she was travelling.

“Mostly, I loved hearing about and seeing the bonds and friendships she was developing as she grew into her beautiful self,” he said.

“Our hearts are shattered as we share the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter, Piper.

“We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit.

“She loved and was proud of her work at BC Wildfire Services.

“Piper would work hard so she could play hard. So many are going to miss you, my precious little baby girl.”

Piper, who had been volunteering for a tour company on the island, was found dead by a group of people driving 4WDs on the beach.

James said she “loved the sunrises and her morning starts”.

James said Piper was just one-and-a-half weeks into the six-week work opportunity she had been offered by her hostel on K’gari.

Piper had planned to return to Canada after her travels, and train to become a pilot like her father.

Investigations into Piper’s death continue

Piper’s cause of death is still yet to be officially determined.

The group of passers-by who found her body were tasked with moving it to a tent until emergency services arrived.

The tragedy has left many campers in the area “quite traumatised,” a group of English backpackers staying in the area said.

“After finding out that happened, it was a bit of a wake-up call, it was like anything can actually happen.”

Queensland Police Inspector Paul Algie acknowledged the incident may concern potential visitors to the island but stressed there was no ongoing risk to public safety.

Dingoes have roamed wild on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, for thousands of years with the population regulated only by the availability of food, water and territory, according to Parks and Forests.

“I would say that it is a wildlife environment and people need to take care when they’re over on the island,” Algie said.

Attacks on the island are not uncommon, however, fatalities are extremely rare.

It has been 25 years since nine-year-old Clinton Gage was mauled to death by at least two dingoes. His brother survived.