Australian authorities have launched an investigation after an 80-year-old woman was found dead on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, after reportedly being left behind by a cruise ship.
The elderly Australian passenger had joined a group hike from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday but is believed to have separated from others to take a rest.
Located about 250 km (155 miles) north of Cairns, the island was the site of a major search operation after the woman was reported missing.
The Coral Adventurer departed the island around sunset and only returned hours later when crew members realised she had not reboarded.
Her body was discovered the following morning, prompting an official inquiry.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed it was notified of the incident at about 21:00 local time on Saturday (05:00 GMT) by the ship’s captain.
The agency said it would interview the ship’s crew when it arrives in Darwin later this week and would collaborate with other authorities to determine what happened.
“AMSA takes the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels seriously,” a spokesperson stated.
Coral Expeditions’ chief executive, Mark Fifield, described the event as “tragic,” saying the company had reached out to the woman’s family and was providing full support.
“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” Fifield said.
According to the Courier Mail, the woman had joined a trek to Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, but decided to rest before completing the climb.
Witness Traci Ayris, who was sailing nearby, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that she saw a helicopter using a spotlight to scour the walking trails around midnight on Saturday.
She said about seven people with torches joined the search, which was later paused around 03:00 local time.
The helicopter resumed the operation on Sunday morning, shortly before the woman’s body was located.
“We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” Ayris told ABC. “And no-one went to the spot that the chopper was hovering over until later that day when the police arrived.”
Ayris added that the loss had clearly shaken both the crew and other guests onboard.
“It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”
Reports indicate the woman was on the first leg of a 60-day cruise around Australia, with ticket prices running into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The Coral Adventurer, which accommodates up to 120 passengers and 46 crew members, was specially designed to explore remote coastal regions and is equipped with small “tender” boats for day trips.
Queensland Police have confirmed the woman’s death was “sudden and non-suspicious,” and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
