The body of an elderly woman was found on Lizard Island on Saturday (25). The 80-year-old woman is believed to have become separated from the group that went for a walk on the island.
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The woman’s absence was noticed by the crew of the Coral Adventurer cruise ship. She was among the dozens of passengers aboard the vessel that had docked at the island.
The tourists had gone for hikes around the island, located on the Great Barrier Reef, and it is believed the Australian woman may have separated from the group to take a break, according to the BBC.
The travelers had reportedly headed toward the island’s highest point, Cook’s Look, when the woman decided to rest.
The ship departed, and three hours later the alarm was raised for the missing passenger. Boats anchored in the area reported hearing a helicopter flying overhead.
Sailor Traci Ayris said the Coral Adventurer had returned in the early hours of the following morning, before several people “with flashlights” disembarked and “searched until around 3 a.m.”
“We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” Ayris said. “And no one went to the area where the helicopter had been hovering until later that day, when the police arrived,” she continued.
The executive director of Coral Expeditions, Mark Fifield, offered condolences to the elderly woman’s family after her “tragic death.”
“The Coral team is in contact with the woman’s family and will continue to offer support during this difficult time.”
Photos: Wikimedia Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
