Authorities are still investigating the cause of death of a young Canadian woman after her body was found with significant wounds and surrounded by a dozen dingoes.
The 19-year-old had gone for an early morning swim at K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, near the Maheno Shipwreck at about 5am on Monday.
Her body was discovered an hour later on the beach by two passing motorists.
It's understood the woman told friends she was going for a swim, but never returned.
She and a Canadian friend had been living and working at a resort on the island since arriving there six weeks ago.
Authorities spent the day examining the scene and setting up new dingo warning signs on the beach as detectives work to determine if the woman was killed by the wild animals or drowned.
Her body has since been transported to Brisbane for a post-mortem examination.
'We're investigating at the moment as to whether she has drowned or whether she has been attacked. We simply don't know,' Police Inspector Paul Algie said.
Rangers spent Monday erecting new warning signs after a Canadian backpacker was found dead surrounded by dingoes
Authorities are currently keeping an open mind about how the young woman died
'We may not know until a post-mortem as to the actual cause of death.
'We'll obviously throw every resource we can at it to get some resolution for her family.'
Locals said the surf conditions were rough at the time.
Queensland Police revealed harrowing details about how the woman's body was found.
'Two male persons have been driving south and seen a large pack of dingoes near an object, and upon closer inspection saw that it was in fact a female person,' Inspector Algie said.
'It was obviously a very traumatic and horrific scene for them to uncover.'
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers have ramped up dingo patrols at the tourist hotspot.
It's been more than two decades since the last fatal dingo attack.
New warning signs were installed along beaches on K'Gari on Monday
Eight-year-old Clinton Gage, was mauled to death by two native dogs while camping with family on the island in 2001.
There have been a spate on non-fatal attacks on K'gari since.
Camping zone five has been temporarily closed on the island, with signs raised to warn visitors about dingo safety.
'This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has understandably left many Queenslanders reeling,' Acting Environment and Tourism Minister Deb Frecklington said.
'The Department will work closely with Queensland Police as they continue their investigation.'
Share or comment on this article: Chilling question remains after Canadian woman found dead surrounded by dingoes on Aussie island: 'We simply don't know'