Unearth The Voyage
An 80-year-old Australian woman has been found dead on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef after being accidentally left behind by the cruise ship she was traveling on. The tragedy occurred on Lizard Island, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Cairns, during the first leg of a luxury 60-day voyage, BBC reports.
A Routine Hike Turns Tragic
The woman was part of a group of passengers from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship who set out to hike to Cook’s Look -Lizard Island’s highest point – on Saturday. According to reports, she decided to stop and rest while others continued to the summit.
When the group returned to the ship later in the day, it appears she had not rejoined them. The vessel departed around sunset, unaware she was still on the island. Several hours later, the crew realized she was missing and turned back to begin a frantic search.
Overnight Search Ends in Heartbreak
A large-scale search operation was launched Saturday night involving helicopters and local authorities. Traci Ayris, who was sailing nearby, told ABC that she saw a helicopter sweeping the island with a spotlight around midnight and search teams with flashlights combing the trails.
“We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” Ayris said. “It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”
Her body was discovered early Sunday morning. Queensland Police later confirmed her death was considered “sudden and non-suspicious.”
Investigation Underway
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was alerted to the missing passenger at around 9 p.m. Saturday and is now investigating the incident. Officials plan to meet with the ship’s crew this week to determine how the oversight occurred.
“AMSA takes the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels very seriously,” a spokesperson said. Authorities are expected to prepare a full report for the coroner.
Cruise Line Offers Condolences
Coral Expeditions Chief Executive Mark Fifield expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “We are offering our full support to the woman’s family and cooperating closely with Queensland Police and other authorities during the investigation,” he said in a statement.
The Coral Adventurer, purpose-built to explore remote regions of Australia, accommodates up to 120 guests and 46 crew. Tickets for the 60-day cruise reportedly cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Despite the incident, the ship has since resumed its scheduled voyage toward Darwin.
