Elderly tourist left behind by cruise ship found dead on Lizard Island
Hours later, when the crew realised she was missing, the vessel turned back, triggering a large-scale search involving helicopters, local police, and rescue teams. Her body was discovered the next morning.
New Delhi,October 29, 2025 08:26 PM IST
First published on: Oct 29, 2025 at 07:46 PM IST
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The Great Barrier Reef near the Whitsunday, Australia, region is viewed from the air (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority via AP)
An 80-year-old Australian woman was found dead on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, after being accidentally left behind by a cruise ship during a 60-day voyage around Australia.
According to a report by the BBC, the woman, whose name has not been revealed, had been hiking with other passengers from the Coral Adventurer on Saturday but reportedly stopped to rest before separating from the group. The ship departed the island around sunset, unaware that she had not returned.
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Hours later, when the crew realised she was missing, the vessel turned back, triggering a large-scale search involving helicopters, local police, and rescue teams. Her body was discovered the next morning.
Ship’s crew to be part of probe
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was alerted to the missing passenger around 9 pm on Saturday and is investigating the circumstances of the incident. “We take the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels seriously and will be meeting the ship’s crew as part of the investigation,” an AMSA spokesperson said.
Local resident Traci Ayris told ABC News she witnessed the overnight search efforts, with helicopters scanning trails on the island. “We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” she said. “It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur. It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”
Queensland Police said the woman’s death is being treated as “sudden and non-suspicious,” and a report will be prepared for the coroner, the BBC reported.
Coral Expeditions, which operates the Coral Adventurer, expressed deep regret. “We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” said CEO Mark Fifield. “We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation.”
The Coral Adventurer, which accommodates up to 120 guests, has since continued its voyage to Darwin.
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The Great Barrier Reef near the Whitsunday, Australia, region is viewed from the air (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority via AP) 
