An 80-year-old woman was discovered deceased on a secluded island after she did not return to her cruise ship in Australia.
The elderly woman was hiking near the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland during an excursion when she went missing. Her body was located on a mountain the following day after the ship’s staff raised concerns. Authorities have stated that they do not consider the woman’s death suspicious.
A comprehensive search operation by sea and land was initiated until her body was found. She was part of a luxurious voyage aboard the Coral Adventurer cruise ship and disappeared while exploring the area. The woman was on a 60-day journey around Australia, with trips costing approximately $80,000 (£39,000).
Mark Fifield, the head of Coral Expeditions, confirmed the “tragic passing” of the passenger on Lizard Island in an official statement. The company is cooperating closely with the authorities in the ongoing investigation.
Fifield stated, “The crew alerted the authorities about a missing woman, leading to a search and rescue operation by land and sea. After the operation, Queensland Police informed Coral Expeditions that the woman was found deceased on Lizard Island.”
He added, “While investigations are ongoing, we express our heartfelt condolences to the woman’s family. Our team has been in touch with the family and will continue to provide support during this challenging time. We are collaborating with Queensland Police and other authorities as they carry out their investigation. We are refraining from further comments until the process is concluded.” Police also mentioned that they are preparing a report for the coroner.
According to a source cited by The Australian, the woman was on the steep Cook’s Look hike on the island with a group on Saturday afternoon when she needed to stop. Allegedly, the group proceeded without her.
Robyn Holmes, the Mayor of Cook Shire, expressed condolences to the woman’s family, friends, and all those impacted by the incident. She acknowledged the distressing nature of the situation and thanked all emergency services and agencies involved.