An investigation is underway in Australia into a strange case where an 80-year-old tourist was left behind on Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef during the first stop of a 60-day luxury sea cruise around Australia, costing 80,000 Australian dollars. Her body was later found in the mountains.
The incident occurred on October 26, when the cruise ship "Coral Adventurer", having departed from Cairns, made its first stop at Lizard Island, about 250 kilometers from the coast, allowing passengers to disembark for their free time.
It is believed that the woman left the group while climbing to the highest point on the island, Cape Lookout, and was left behind. The rest of the group returned to the ship to find she was missing. The ship's crew was not initially aware that the woman was still on the island and had not boarded the ship.
One passenger reported that the cruise ship did not check passenger attendance during boarding and "weighed anchor as soon as the last batch of passengers had come on board".
Coral Expeditions, the ship's operator, issued a statement confirming its "full cooperation with the police investigation" and has contacted the victim's family to offer assistance.
The woman's disappearance was not discovered for several hours. A rescue helicopter searched for her until the early hours of the next morning before her body was finally found.
The Lizard Island website clearly states that the trail "is 4 km long, is steep in sections, and requires a moderate to high level of fitness".
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has also stated that it is investigating the incident.
