Authorities in Australia have launched an investigation after an 80-year-old woman was found dead on an island near the Great Barrier Reef, reportedly after being left behind by her cruise ship.
According to BBC News, the woman was traveling aboard the Coral Adventurer, a cruise ship making a 60-day voyage around Australia. She was participating in a group hike on Lizard Island when she separated from the others to take a rest and never rejoined the group.
Authorities believe the woman became isolated from the group as the ship prepared to depart. The Coral Adventurer reportedly left the island around sunset but later returned hours later once the crew realized she was missing. Her body was discovered during a search operation on Sunday morning, following an overnight effort led by local authorities and maritime teams.
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BBC Reports Details of the Incident
BBC News reported that the woman was part of a guided excursion that involved hiking to Cook’s Look, the highest peak on Lizard Island, a remote national park in Queensland. Investigators believe she may have fallen ill or become disoriented after stopping to rest during the trek.
Authorities confirmed that the woman was found deceased near the hiking trail and that her death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in a statement that it will be meeting with the ship’s crew later this week to gather more information about the incident.
“The woman was on the first stop of a 60-day cruise around Australia and joined a group hike to the island’s highest peak, Cook’s Look, before she decided to take a rest,” the agency said.
Officials are also reviewing whether the ship’s safety and headcount procedures were followed before it left the island.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Once the Coral Adventurer crew realized the woman was missing, they alerted authorities and immediately returned to Lizard Island, approximately 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of Cairns.
A large-scale search began involving Queensland Police, park rangers, and AMSA personnel. Despite the remote terrain and fading light, rescuers scoured hiking paths and coastal areas through the night. Her body was located early Sunday morning, and recovery operations were completed shortly thereafter. Authorities have not yet released the woman’s name, pending notification of her family.
Investigators are now working to piece together a timeline of events and determine how long she had been left behind before the ship returned.
Lizard Island: A Remote Destination with Rugged Terrain
Lizard Island is part of a national park within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, known for its rugged hiking trails, coral reefs, and isolated landscape.
The hike to Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, is considered challenging, often requiring several hours of uphill trekking through rocky terrain and intense heat. While the island is a popular stop for adventure cruises, the isolation and weather conditions can pose serious risks to elderly or inexperienced hikers, particularly if they become separated from their group.
This tragic incident has prompted questions about how cruise companies manage safety during off-ship excursions in remote destinations.