Lady dies after being left behind by cruise ship on Australian island

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5029/live/7b55a3b0-b4ac-11f0-af34-1517978c0fa1.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images An aerial shot of Lizard Island - a small island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef - showing the calm blue shallow waters of the reef. The island is dominated by a peak." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos Lizard Island is about 250km (155 miles) north of Cairns

An 80-year-old Australian lady has been discovered lifeless on a Nice Barrier Reef island after being left behind by the cruise ship she was travelling on.

The lady had been mountain climbing on Lizard Island, 250km (155 miles) north of Cairns, with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday however is believed to have damaged off from the group to have a relaxation.

The ship left the island round sundown however returned a number of hours later after the crew realised the lady was lacking. A serious search operation discovered her physique on Sunday morning. No particulars have been launched.

The Australian Maritime Security Authority (Amsa) stated it was investigating and would meet the ship's crew later this week.

It's understood the lady, who has not been named, was on the primary cease of a 60-day cruise round Australia, with tickets costing within the tens of 1000's of {dollars} for the journey.

She had joined a gaggle hike to the island's highest peak, Cook dinner's Look, earlier than she determined she wanted to relaxation, in line with the Courier Mail newspaper.

However she didn't make it again to the ship, which then departed with out her.

Incidents like this are uncommon, and cruise ships have programs to file which passengers are embarking or disembarking, Harriet Mallinson, cruise editor of journey web site Sailawaze advised the BBC.

"Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard simply is not an possibility," she stated.

Cruise strains take these procedures very severely and have "intelligent tech in place to forestall such incidents from taking place. That is most certainly a stunning - and tragic - one-off", Ms Mallinson added.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4707/live/3dc8e200-b4de-11f0-b2a1-6f537f66f9aa.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A satellite map of Lizard Island, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The map highlights a hiking trail in yellow leading to Cook’s Look summit, marked with a white dot near the island’s centre. A label indicates where the Coral cruise ship was moored offshore to the northwest of the island. Surrounding the island are turquoise waters and coral reefs." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Traci Ayris was crusing close to the island final weekend and told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that she noticed a helicopter utilizing a highlight to go looking a strolling path on the island at round midnight on Saturday.

She stated about seven folks with torches went to the island to go looking but it surely was referred to as off at round 03:00 on Sunday (18:00 GMT Saturday) with a helicopter returning on Sunday morning when the physique was apparently discovered.

"We knew she was lifeless as a result of they referred to as everybody again from the search instantly," she advised ABC.

"And no-one went to the spot that the chopper was hovering over till later that day when the police arrived."

A spokesperson for Amsa stated it was first alerted to the lacking lady at round 21:00 on Saturday by the ship's captain.

The authority stated it might work with different related companies to analyze the case and that it takes the security of passengers and crew onboard industrial vessels severely.

Ms Ayris additionally stated the incident was clearly distressing for crew and passengers.

"It was very unhappy on this paradise to have this tragedy happen. It ought to have been a contented time for that pretty girl."

A report into the "sudden and non-suspicious demise" of the lady shall be ready for the coroner, Queensland police stated.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/65de/live/e33d3d40-b4bf-11f0-a647-27924139c13d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Coral Expeditions a wide angle photograph showing the Coral Adventurer cruise ship." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Coral Expeditions The incident occurred on the primary cease of a 60-day journey round Australia

Coral Expeditions chief government Mark Fifield stated employees had contacted the lady's household and had been providing help over the "tragic demise".

"Whereas investigations into the incident are persevering with, we're deeply sorry that this has occurred and are providing our full help to the lady's household," Mr Fifield stated.

"We're working carefully with Queensland Police and different authorities to help their investigation. We're unable to remark additional whereas this course of is underneath approach," he added.

The Coral Adventurer caters for as much as 120 visitors with 46 crew, in line with the corporate's web site. It was purpose-built to entry distant areas of Australia's coast and is provided with "tenders" - small boats used to take passengers on day excursions.