A tragic incident off the coast of Australia has shocked the world of luxury travel. An 80-year-old Australian woman was found dead after being left behind on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, by the Coral Adventurer cruise ship — despite paying tens of thousands of dollars for a 60-day voyage.
The woman joined a group hike on October 25 near Cairns, about 250 kilometers north of the city. According to reports, she separated from the group to rest. The ship departed the island that evening, apparently unaware that one of its passengers was missing. When the crew finally realized her absence, they returned to the island — but it was too late. The woman’s body was discovered the next morning, on October 26.
Authorities have not released further details. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has launched an investigation and plans to interview the crew in the coming days.
Mark Field, CEO of Coral Expeditions, said the company had reached out to the woman’s family and offered support, adding:
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. The investigation is ongoing.”
The Coral Adventurer, equipped with 46 crew members and around 120 cabins, was designed for remote Australian coastal expeditions. It also carries smaller boats for daily island excursions — the very feature that now casts a dark shadow over this ill-fated journey.
The ship has reportedly continued its voyage despite the tragedy.