An unfortunate event has occurred off the coast of Australia, where an 80-year-old woman was discovered deceased on Lizard Island after being inadvertently left behind by the cruise ship Coral Adventurer. The woman had been exploring the island, located approximately 250 km north of Cairns, with fellow passengers on Saturday. It is believed she had separated from her group to take a rest.
The cruise ship departed the island around sunset. However, several hours later, the crew realized the woman was missing. This led to the ship returning to the island, initiating a significant search operation. Sadly, the woman’s body was discovered on Sunday morning.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has announced an investigation into the incident. AMSA stated that they would meet with the ship’s crew upon its arrival in Darwin later this week. A spokesperson for AMSA confirmed they were notified of the missing passenger by the ship’s captain at approximately 21:00 local time on Saturday. The authority emphasized its commitment to the safety of all passengers and crew on commercial vessels and will collaborate with relevant agencies during the investigation.
Coral Expeditions, the operator of the Coral Adventurer, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event. The company’s chief executive, Mark Fifield, stated that their staff had contacted the woman’s family and are providing support during this difficult time. “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,” Fifield commented.
Reports suggest the woman had joined a group hike to Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, before deciding to rest. Witnesses recalled seeing a helicopter searching a walking trail on the island with a spotlight around midnight on Saturday. The search was initially called off in the early hours of Sunday, but a helicopter returned later that morning, leading to the discovery of the woman’s body. The incident has understandably caused distress among the crew and passengers aboard the cruise ship, turning what should have been a pleasant holiday into a tragedy.
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