Canadian teen’s death on Australian beach shocks friends in B.C.

Friends of a Canadian woman found dead on a remote Australian beach say the news has left them stunned and grieving, as authorities continue to investigate what happened.

Police in Queensland say the body of a 19-year-old woman was discovered on a beach on K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, and that it appeared to have been interfered with by a pack of about 10 dingoes. Officials have not publicly confirmed the woman’s identity, though Australian media have reported she was Canadian.

Brianna Falk, a close friend from Campbell River, B.C., says she first learned something was wrong while at work after seeing early news reports about the incident. Her fears were confirmed later when another friend told her the woman’s family had been notified.

Falk says she met the woman three years ago in a high school English class in Campbell River and remembers her as someone who loved the outdoors and embraced life. She described her friend as easy to talk to and full of plans for the future.

“She was so young, and we had talked about so many things we wanted to do,” Falk said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “You never expect something like this to happen to someone you know, especially one of your closest friends.”

The incident has drawn attention in Canada to safety concerns around wildlife interactions in Australia’s national parks, including K’gari, where dingoes are protected but closely monitored. Queensland authorities have said they will release more information once their investigation is complete.