An 80-year-old Australian woman was found deceased on a Great Barrier Reef island after allegedly being left by her cruise ship. According to BBC, the woman was a passenger on the Coral Adventurer cruise ship and went hiking on Lizard Island, about 155 miles north of Cairns. She reportedly got separated from other passengers after stepping away from the group to rest. The cruise ship left the island on Saturday and didn’t realize the woman did not make it back. Her body was found the following day. The woman’s daughter called for a coronial inquest into her death, alleging there was a “failure of care and common sense.” Daughter of 80-year-old cruise passenger left to die on remote island reveals heartbreaking final moments https://t.co/buIzo7Dssk pic.twitter.com/C57s5JbHP4 — New York Post (@nypost) October 30, 2025 BBC shared more: The ship left the island around sunset but returned several hours later after the crew realised the woman was missing. A major search operation found her body on Sunday morning. No details have been released. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said it was investigating and would meet the ship’s crew later this week. It is understood the woman, who has not been named, was on the first stop of a 60-day cruise around Australia, with tickets costing in the tens of thousands of dollars for the journey. She had joined a group hike to the island’s highest peak, Cook’s Look, before she decided she needed to rest, according to the Courier Mail newspaper. But she did not make it back to the ship, which then departed without her. Incidents like this are rare, and cruise ships have systems to record which passengers are embarking or disembarking, Harriet Mallinson, cruise editor of travel website Sailawaze told the BBC. “AMSA will make an assessment as to whether there was any non-compliance associated with the passenger not being counted onto the ship and, if necessary, will take action to address them,” an AMSA spokesperson wrote in a statement, according to Fox News. “AMSA intends to conduct inquiries on board the vessel when it arrives in Darwin. We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding. AMSA offers its condolences to the family and loved ones of the person who has passed. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time,” the statement added. VACATION TRAGEDY: An 80-year-old woman was found dead on an island after her cruise ship left without her pic.twitter.com/JzOdZejdOp — Fox News (@FoxNews) October 29, 2025 Fox News noted: Rees’ daughter, Katherine, told ABC Australia “from the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense.” “We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt ill on the hill climb. She was asked to head down, unescorted,” Katherine told the outlet. “Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count.” The family reportedly said they are hoping to learn if Rees’ death could have been prevented. The Coroner’s Court of Queensland on Wednesday confirmed to ABC Rees’ death was “referred to the coroner for investigation.” Once the coroner’s investigation is complete, a decision will be made about launching an inquest into the death. AMSA said details surrounding the timing of the vessel’s arrival and AMSA’s next steps are not available, as the investigation remains active. Watch additional coverage below: