Investigation after girl left behind by cruise ship dies on island

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

The girl had been mountaineering 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 girl was lacking. A serious search operation discovered her physique on Sunday morning. No particulars have been launched.

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

It’s understood the girl, 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 bunch hike to the island’s highest peak, Prepare dinner’s Look, earlier than she determined she wanted to relaxation, based on 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 techniques to report 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 choice,” she mentioned.

Cruise traces 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.

Traci Ayris was crusing close to the island final weekend and advised the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) that she noticed a helicopter utilizing a highlight to go looking a strolling path on the island at round midnight on Saturday.

She mentioned about seven individuals 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 useless 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 mentioned it was first alerted to the lacking girl at round 21:00 on Saturday by the ship’s captain.

The authority mentioned it could work with different related businesses to analyze the case and that it takes the security of passengers and crew onboard business vessels severely.

Ms Ayris additionally mentioned 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 woman.”

A report into the “sudden and non-suspicious loss of life” of the girl might be ready for the coroner, Queensland police mentioned.

Coral Expeditions chief government Mark Fifield mentioned workers had contacted the girl’s household and had been providing help over the “tragic loss of life”.

“Whereas investigations into the incident are persevering with, we’re deeply sorry that this has occurred and are providing our full help to the girl’s household,” Mr Fifield mentioned.

“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 company with 46 crew, based on the corporate’s web site. It was purpose-built to entry distant areas of Australia’s coast and is supplied with “tenders” – small boats used to take passengers on day excursions.

The vessel has continued its voyage to Darwin.

Further reporting by Tom McArthur