Elderly passenger dies after being left behind on Great Barrier Reef island

An 80-year-old woman has been found dead on Lizard Island, part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, after the cruise ship she was travelling on departed without her.

The woman, who has not been named, was hiking with other passengers from the Coral Adventurer when she reportedly broke away from the group to rest. The ship left the island near sunset on Saturday before returning hours later when the crew realised she was missing.

A large-scale search was launched involving helicopters and ground teams. Her body was discovered on Sunday morning. Police said the death was being treated as sudden but not suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed it had opened an investigation and would meet the ship’s crew later this week. A spokesperson said it first received an alert from the captain around 9 pm on Saturday and would continue working with other agencies to determine what went wrong.

According to Australian media, the woman had been taking part in a group walk up Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, before deciding to remain behind. Fellow travellers said the ship was on the first leg of a 60-day voyage around Australia, with tickets costing tens of thousands of dollars.

One witness, sailor Traci Ayris, told the national broadcaster that she saw a helicopter using a spotlight to search the island trails. “It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady,” she said.

Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield said the company was deeply saddened by the “tragic death” and was supporting the woman’s family. “We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation,” he said.

The Coral Adventurer carries up to 120 guests and 46 crew, and is equipped with smaller boats for excursions to remote coastal areas. The vessel has since resumed its voyage towards Darwin.

For more about how maritime incidents are investigated in Australian waters, visit the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

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