Australian authorities are currently investigating a heartbreaking incident involving an 80-year-old woman who was tragically left behind on a Great Barrier Reef island. The woman, a passenger on the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, was found deceased after a hiking excursion on Lizard Island, located approximately 250 km (155 miles) north of Cairns.
On Saturday, the elderly woman was participating in a group hike with fellow passengers when she reportedly decided to separate from the group for a brief rest. The cruise ship departed Lizard Island around sunset, but upon realizing the woman was missing, the crew returned several hours later to conduct a search operation.
Efforts to locate her intensified, and a major search operation was launched. Sadly, the woman’s body was discovered on Sunday morning. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has announced that it is initiating an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and will meet with the ship's crew when it docks in Darwin later this week.
AMSA was alerted to the woman's disappearance around 21:00 local time on Saturday (05:00 GMT on Friday) by the captain of the Coral Adventurer. The authority is collaborating with other relevant agencies to ensure a thorough investigation, emphasizing its commitment to the safety of all passengers and crew aboard commercial vessels.
Mark Fifield, the chief executive of Coral Expeditions, expressed condolences, stating that the staff has reached out to the woman’s family to offer support during this difficult time. He remarked, “While investigations into the incident are ongoing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are providing our full support to the woman’s family.”
According to reports from fellow tourists, the woman had joined a group hike to the island's highest peak, Cook's Look, before deciding to take a break. Traci Ayris, who was sailing near the island that weekend, recounted witnessing a helicopter conducting a spotlight search on the walking trail around midnight on Saturday. She noted that approximately seven individuals participated in the search but it was called off around 03:00 local time, with the helicopter returning the following morning when the body was found.
Ayris shared her feelings with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), saying, “We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately. It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”
The elderly woman was reportedly on the first stop of a planned 60-day cruise around Australia, with ticket prices reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars. The Coral Adventurer is designed to accommodate up to 120 guests along with a crew of 46, and it is specially built to access the remote areas of Australia's coastline. The ship is equipped with tenders—small boats used for day excursions, enhancing passenger safety and experience.
In light of this tragic event, Queensland police confirmed that a report will be prepared for the coroner regarding the sudden and non-suspicious death of the woman. As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances that led to this tragic incident.
