The family and friends of a teenage tourist, who was discovered deceased on a secluded beach in Queensland, have criticized the insensitive comments circulating on social media as authorities work to uncover the details surrounding her passing.

Nineteen-year-old Canadian backpacker Piper James had been camping on Queensland’s K’gari Island. She informed her companions of her plan to go for an early-morning swim around 5 a.m.

Less than an hour later, her body was found by two people traveling in a four-wheel drive along the shore. Reports indicate that she had multiple defensive injuries and was surrounded by a group of dingoes at the time of discovery.

As investigators try to determine if Piper drowned or was possibly attacked by the wildlife, her tragic death has deeply affected both her home country of Canada and Australia.

Piper hailed from Campbell River in British Columbia and had been exploring Australia with her best friend Taylor for six weeks, a journey her family described as a dream come true.

Amidst the ongoing investigation, those who knew Piper express that the online reaction has, unfortunately, crossed into insensitivity.

Comment sections beneath news reports have been flooded with cruel jokes and grotesque taunts referencing the 1980 death of Lindy Chamberlain’s baby, Azaria, who was taken by a dingo at Uluru –  a tragedy that continues to haunt Australia decades later. 

Canadian backpacker Piper James, 19, was camping on K’gari Island when she was found dead surrounded by a pack of dingoes 

Originally from Campbell River in British Columbia, Piper had been travelling Australia for six weeks with her best friend Taylor on what their families described as the trip of a lifetime

Taylor’s mother, Marjorie Stricker, condemned what she described as the ‘heartless side of humanity’ that has emerged online in the wake of Piper’s death.

‘Social media can be a powerful place to share both the highs and the lows of life,’ she wrote in a social media post.

‘We have been overwhelmingly touched by the love and concern people have shared. On the flip side, it has been incredibly difficult to witness the hurtful comments and the heartless side of humanity that sometimes emerges alongside support.

‘We are trying our best to shield our family from anything but the compassion that is being expressed.

‘We have no space for political agendas, disrespectful humour, unsolicited opinions or speculation during this time of heartache and tragedy.’

Ms Stricker said Piper’s death had shattered the families involved and urged the public to remember the young woman at the centre of the tragedy rather than turning her final moments into a debate or a punchline.

‘When the girls first left for Australia, we told them to always call, that there were no problems we couldn’t face together, and that safety was the most important thing,’ she said.

‘This isn’t how this was meant to play out. What has happened cannot be undone. It cannot be fixed.

Taylor’s mother, Marjorie Stricker, condemned what she described as the ‘heartless side of humanity’ that has emerged on social media since Piper’s death 

She said Piper’s death had shattered both families and asked people to remember the young woman at the centre of the tragedy, not the rumours surrounding it

Ms Stricker urged the public to show compassion, saying there was no space for disrespectful humour during the family’s grief 

‘But we can honour Piper. Her free spirit, her kindness and her way of moving through the world.

‘We can do that by choosing compassion, by leading with empathy, and by spreading kindness in our daily lives. That is how Piper lived, and it’s what she would have wanted.’

Ms Stricker also shared fond memories of her daughter and Piper growing up together, explaining she was more than their daughter’s friend and was part of their family.

‘The ocean called to her, just as adventure did,’ she wrote.

‘Turning 19 in Australia was part of their dream and they worked tirelessly to make it  come true.

‘Their game plan was to return home at the end of March to Vancouver Island ready to embrace adulthood and all the responsibilities it entails.

‘Their timeline was guided in part by Piper’s drive to resume her firefighting training so she would be ready for the upcoming season. 

‘She was determined to continue to pursue building a life rooted in purpose, passion, and service.’

Taylor’s family said Piper was more than their daughter’s best friend, describing her as a constant presence in their home and hearts 

Turning 19 in Australia was part of their long-held dream, with the pair planning to return to Vancouver Island at the end of March

Piper had planned to resume her firefighting training after returning home 

A post-mortem has since been conducted on her body with the results expected to determine a cause of death. 

If authorities determine her death was caused by native animals, it would be the first fatal dingo attack in the country in 25 years.

Traditional owners of K’gari have accused the Queensland government of ignoring safety warnings for more than 25 years.

The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation claimed it has repeatedly urged authorities to cap visitor numbers on K’gari and periodically close the island to tourists to prevent dingo attacks.

‘Personally I can’t stress enough that K’gari needs to be closed down during certain periods, and sometimes those periods will come in at peak seasons for visitors,’ project officer Tessa Waia said.

‘If you’ve got a government that’s more interested in the tourism economy than the wongari (dingo), the island is going to suffer.’