Cruise Ship Leaves Behind 80-Year-Old Woman, Body Found on Island
A tragic incident occurred when an 80-year-old woman from Australia was found dead after being allegedly left behind by a cruise ship on Lizard Island. According to ABC News Australia, her remains were discovered on Sunday following a search that began when she was reported missing late Saturday night.
The woman, who has not been identified, was part of a group hiking tour on the island but failed to return to the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, which set sail between 6 and 7 p.m. local time. Local fishing boat owner Rob Siganto reported hearing communications about someone missing, with the last known location near the top of a hill.
Several boaters in the area noticed the cruise ship returning to Lizard Island to search for the woman, raising concerns about her safety. Traci Ayris, a nearby sailor, recalled waking up to the sound of helicopters during the search effort.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding this incident, although they did not immediately respond for further comment.
In a statement, Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions, expressed condolences, stating, “We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.” The cruise company has reached out to the family to provide assistance during this challenging time.
