An elderly woman has been found dead after she ‘failed to board’ a cruise ship while visiting a popular tourist island in the Great Barrier Reef.
Police have launched an investigation into the death of the solo traveller, 80, while hiking Lizard Island’s highest summit off the Far North Queensland coast on Saturday.
It’s understood the woman was walking up the Cook’s Look summit with a Coral Expeditions group when she needed to stop.
‘The group continued on and boarded the vessel before realising she was not there,’ a source told The Australian.
Another source claimed that the woman had fallen from a cliff.
The woman was reported missing after she failed to return to the ship anchored offshore, sparking a widespread search that continued well into the night.
The woman’s body was located and retrieved on Sunday.
Coral Expeditions confirmed to Daily Mail that a passenger on the Coral Adventurer cruise died during an excursion to the island on Saturday.
An excursion to Lizard Island ended in tragedy with the death of an elderly tourist on Saturday
The tourist was hiking to Cook’s Look summit on Lizard Island when she became separated from the group
‘The crew notified authorities that a woman was missing, and a search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea,’ chief executive Mark Fifield said.
‘Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island.
‘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.
‘The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
‘We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is underway.’
Police are treating the woman’s death as non-suspicious and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Cook’s Look is the highest point on Lizard Island and follows the footsteps of Captain James Cook, who is believed to be the first European to have trekked the mountain.
‘It covers four kilometres and at times is very steep so we recommend medium to high fitness and agility to safely undertake this hike,’ the island’s website states.
‘Due to the time it takes to hike and the heat of the day, it is recommended that you hike early in the morning.
‘Those that have done this hike say it is challenging but incredibly rewarding.’
