The official cause of death of a Canadian teenager who died on Queensland tourist island K’gari has been revealed.

A Queensland coroner on Friday released a short statement, comfirming Piper James died of drowning due to a dingo attack.

The 19-year-old was found dead near the surf at the Maheno Wreck on K’gari on January 19.

It is understood Piper left for a swim at 5am, with passersby discovering her body, surrounded by a pack of around 10 dingoes, about an hour later.

Initial investigations into her death and an initial autopsy was inconclusive, however, finding physical evidence consistent with drowning and dingo bites.

On Friday, a spokesperson from the Coroners Court said the final results have been revealed for the teen’s cause of death.

“The Coroners Court of Queensland advises that the results of Piper’s cause of death have now been determined by the assigned Queensland Health forensic pathologist and has been accepted by the investigating Coroner,” they said.

“Piper died as a result of drowning in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack.

“The investigation into Piper’s death is ongoing, and no further information can be provided at this time.”

James had been travelling Australia with a friend on a five-month “trip of a lifetime” and had been living and working on the island for about a week before her death.

James’ family flew to Australia last month and a private cremation service was held in Brisbane.

Her remains have been returned to British Columbia, Canada, where a celebration of life was held on February 28.

In January, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said rangers had observed “aggressive behaviour” among the dingoes believed to have been involved with James around the time of her death.

The decision was made to cull the pack believed to be involved in James’ death.

“Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack’s involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk,” the department said.

James’ heartbroken father, Todd James said his daughter had adored nature and animals and would never have supported a dingo cull, but agreed urgent safety improvements are needed on the island.

Among the measures he wants considered are better training for island staff, mandatory carrying of dingo sticks, and even a ban on children younger than 13 visiting K’gari.

K’gari traditional owners Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation hit out at the government order to cull the dingoes involved.

Local advocacy group Save K’gari Dingoes said it was a “political decision made without consultation”.

The last reported fatal dingo attack on K’gari was in 2001 when nine-year-old Clinton Gage fell and was attacked near a campsite, prompting the cull of around 30 dingoes.