Australian authorities are conducting an investigation into the death of an 80-year-old woman found on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, after being left behind by the Coral Adventurer cruise ship. The woman was hiking with other passengers when she reportedly separated from the group to take a rest. The cruise ship departed the island around sunset but returned several hours later upon realizing her absence. A search operation was initiated, and the woman’s body was located the following morning.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received notification of the missing woman from the ship’s captain around 9:00 PM local time on Saturday. AMSA has stated that it will collaborate with other agencies during the investigation and emphasized its commitment to passenger safety aboard commercial vessels. Coral Expeditions, the operator of the cruise, has reached out to the woman’s family to offer support and expressed condolences regarding her death.
Witnesses indicated that a helicopter was seen searching the island’s walking trails late on Saturday night. Reports suggest that a small search team was dispatched, but efforts were suspended until the following day when the helicopter returned and discovered the body. Local resident Traci Ayris noted the distress caused by the incident among crew and passengers.
The woman was reportedly on the first stop of a 60-day cruise around Australia, with ticket prices reaching significant amounts. The Coral Adventurer, which accommodates up to 120 guests with 46 crew members, is designed for exploring remote areas of Australia’s coast, utilizing small boats for excursions. Queensland police have stated that a report will be prepared for the coroner regarding the circumstances of the woman’s death, which has been classified as sudden and non-suspicious.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62eww646wjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss