Investigation after woman left behind by cruise ship dies on island

An 80-year-old Australian woman has been discovered useless on a Great Barrier Reef island after being left behind by the cruise ship she was travelling on.

The woman had been mountaineering on Lizard Island, 250km (155 miles) north of Cairns, with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday but is believed to have damaged off from the group to have a relaxation.

The ship left the island around sundown but returned a number of hours later after the crew realised the woman was lacking. A major search operation discovered her physique on Sunday morning. No particulars have been launched.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said it was investigating and would meet the ship’s crew later this week.

It is known the woman, who has not been named, was on the first stop of a 60-day cruise around Australia, with tickets costing in the tens of hundreds of {dollars} for the journey.

She had joined a group hike to the island’s highest peak, Cook’s Look, before she determined she needed to relaxation, according to the Courier Mail newspaper.

But she didn’t make it back to the ship, which then departed without her.

Traci Ayris was crusing close to the island last weekend and told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that she noticed a helicopter utilizing a highlight to search a strolling path on the island at around midnight on Saturday.

She said about seven people with torches went to the island to search but it was called off at around 03:00 on Sunday (18:00 GMT Saturday) with a helicopter returning on Sunday morning when the physique was apparently discovered.

“We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” she told ABC.

“And no-one went to the spot that the chopper was hovering over until later that day when the police arrived.”

A spokesperson for Amsa said it was first alerted to the lacking woman at around 21:00 on Saturday by the ship’s captain.

The authority said it will work with other related companies to examine the case and that it takes the security of passengers and crew onboard business vessels critically.

Ms Ayris also said the incident was clearly distressing for crew and passengers.

“It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”

A report into the “sudden and non-suspicious death” of the woman will likely be ready for the coroner, Queensland police said.

Coral Expeditions chief govt Mark Fifield said workers had contacted the woman’s household and have been offering assist over the “tragic death”.

“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” Mr Fifield said.

“We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is under way,” he added.

The Coral Adventurer caters for up to 120 friends with 46 crew, according to the company’s web site. It was purpose-built to access distant areas of Australia’s coast and is supplied with “tenders” – small boats used to take passengers on day excursions.

The vessel has continued its voyage to Darwin.