An elderly Australian woman was discovered deceased on Lizard Island after failing to reboard the Coral Adventurer cruise ship during a stopover. The incident has prompted an investigation by maritime authorities into how the passenger was left behind.
The tragic event unfolded over the weekend when the 80-year-old woman, whose identity has not been publicly released, participated in a group hike on Lizard Island, a remote destination within the Great Barrier Reef. She had broken away from the main group to rest during the excursion to Cook’s Look, the island’s highest peak. Unaware of her absence, the Coral Adventurer departed the island around sunset between 6 pm and 7 pm on Saturday. It was only hours later that the crew realized she was missing and initiated a search.
A major search operation was launched late Saturday night, involving emergency services and helicopters from Nautilus Aviation. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a helicopter using spotlights to scan the walking trails shortly after midnight. The Coral Adventurer returned to the island between 1 am and 2 am on Sunday, and a team of seven crew members went ashore with torches to continue the search until approximately 3 am.
The search resumed at first light on Sunday morning, and the woman’s body was located around 9:30 am near the walking trail. Traci Ayris, a sailor in the area, described how the helicopter hovered over the spot, and the search was immediately called off, indicating the grim discovery. The body was not recovered until later that day when police arrived on the scene.
In response to the incident, Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield expressed deep sorrow and confirmed that the company has been in contact with the woman’s family to offer support. He stated that the company is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and is committed to understanding how the tragedy occurred.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has announced it will investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman being left behind. An AMSA spokesperson said the authority would meet with the ship’s crew when the Coral Adventurer docks in Darwin later this week. AMSA emphasized its commitment to passenger and crew safety on commercial vessels.
Queensland police are also involved, treating the death as sudden and non-suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The incident has sparked discussions about safety protocols for cruise ships operating in remote areas, particularly regarding passenger accountability during shore excursions.
The woman was on the first leg of a 60-day cruise around Australia, a journey that costs tens of thousands of dollars. The Coral Adventurer, which can accommodate up to 120 guests, is designed to access isolated coastal regions and uses small tenders for day trips. This tragedy highlights the potential risks associated with adventure tourism in pristine but unforgiving environments.
As investigations proceed, the cruise industry may face calls for tighter safety measures to prevent similar occurrences. The outcome of the AMSA inquiry could lead to new regulations or enhanced procedures for passenger headcounts and monitoring during island visits, ensuring that such a devastating oversight does not happen again.