Tragedy on Lizard Island: Cruise Passenger Dies

The English Chronicle Online.The English Chronicle Desk

Published: 29th July 2025 The English Chronicle Online

A woman has died in tragic circumstances while on a luxury cruise expedition off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The passenger, who has not been named, was part of a 60-day voyage around Australia aboard the Coral Adventurer, with tickets reportedly costing tens of thousands of dollars. The incident occurred on Saturday during a group hike on Lizard Island, a remote and picturesque location on the Great Barrier Reef.

According to reports from the Courier Mail and other Australian media, the woman had joined a guided walk to the island’s highest point, Cook’s Look, but decided to turn back partway, saying she needed to rest. When she failed to return, the ship departed without her, unaware that she had not reboarded. The incident quickly escalated into a search and rescue operation late on Saturday night.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was alerted by the ship’s captain at around 9 p.m. on Saturday after the passenger was reported missing. A helicopter equipped with a spotlight was deployed to scan the island’s walking trails, and a small team of searchers used torches to sweep the surrounding area. According to witness accounts, the search was suspended around 3 a.m. and resumed the next morning.

Traci Ayris, a tourist sailing nearby, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that she saw the helicopter circling the island through the night. “We knew she was dead because they called everyone back from the search immediately,” she said. “No one went to the spot that the chopper was hovering over until later that day when the police arrived.”

The woman’s body was reportedly discovered on Sunday morning. Queensland Police confirmed they are preparing a report for the coroner and that the death is being treated as “sudden and non-suspicious.”

Cruise industry experts say incidents of this kind are extremely rare. Harriet Mallinson, cruise editor for the travel website Sailawaze, told the BBC that cruise lines have robust systems in place to track passengers as they disembark and reboard during excursions. “Sneaking ashore or [back] onboard just isn’t an option,” she explained. “Cruise lines take these procedures very seriously and have clever technology in place to prevent such incidents. This is most likely a shocking—and tragic—one-off.”

The Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions, is a small expedition ship designed to reach remote destinations around Australia’s coastline. The vessel can carry up to 120 guests and 46 crew members and is equipped with smaller boats to transport passengers for day trips and island visits. The company’s chief executive, Mark Fifield, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said that the woman’s family had been contacted and were being offered full support.

“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred,” Mr. Fifield said in a statement. “We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is under way.”

Amsa confirmed it is cooperating with Queensland Police and other relevant agencies to understand the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. “We take the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels very seriously,” an AMSA spokesperson said.

Witnesses described a sombre atmosphere among passengers and crew in the aftermath of the discovery. “It was very sad in this paradise to have this tragedy occur,” said Ms Ayris. “It should have been a happy time for that lovely lady.”

Following the incident, the Coral Adventurer continued its voyage north to Darwin, as authorities carried on with formal investigations into the tragedy. The remote and idyllic setting of Lizard Island, usually a symbol of serenity and natural beauty, has now become the backdrop to a devastating loss at sea—one that has shaken both travellers and the cruise community alike.

Report by The English Chronicle Desk