Brisbane, Australia
—
A cruise passenger in her 80s, who had simply embarked on a 60-day luxurious tour round Australia, was found dead after being left behind on a tropical island.
The passenger, who hasn’t been named, was reported lacking to authorities on Saturday night time, when a examine of small cruise ship the Coral Adventurer confirmed she wasn’t on board.
The vessel had docked earlier Saturday at Lizard Island, a resort island about 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the Queensland coast identified for its pure magnificence and luxurious lodging.
Queensland Police confirmed the woman’s physique was found on Lizard Island on Sunday, and described her demise as “sudden and non-suspicious.”
But it’s not clear when she died, nor why nobody observed she wasn’t on board the boat when it departed Lizard Island.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) stated its investigation will embody “the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding.”
Records present the Coral Adventurer, with capability for 120 passengers and 46 crew, had left the port of Cairns only a day earlier on October 24.
Lizard Island was one of many first stops on the 80,000-Australian-dollar ($50,000) cruise taking passengers across the nation, by way of its northern tip of Cape York, in direction of the coast of Western Australia.
Cruise operator Coral Expeditions advertises Lizard Island as a spot passengers can swim, snorkel or take a hike to “Cook’s Look” for panoramic views.
It’s not clear if the aged woman took half in any marketed actions whereas on the island.
The firm has been working for greater than 40 years and gives cruises round Australia and past. Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield stated in an announcement {that a} “land and sea” search commenced after the crew found the woman was lacking.
AMSA stated it started looking with Queensland Police after the ship’s captain reported the woman lacking to authorities at 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Queensland Police stated the woman was reported lacking “after failing to board a vessel in waters off Queensland earlier on Saturday.”
AMSA says the crew will probably be questioned when the ship docks in Darwin. The port schedule reveals it’s anticipated to reach on November 2.
Fifield, from Coral Expeditions, stated the corporate is “deeply sorry that this has occurred.”
“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.”