Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an 80-year-old Australian woman who was found dead on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. The woman was reported missing after failing to reboard the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday, October 25, following a group hiking tour.

A search operation began late Saturday night after the crew realized she was missing. The Coral Adventurer had departed Lizard Island around sunset, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Emergency services, aided by Nautilus Aviation helicopters, were called just before midnight. Rob Siganto, a local fishing charter operator, witnessed the ship's departure and noted the search efforts that began shortly after. "We heard the conversation on the radio. They were looking for someone and the last known location was halfway up the hill," he said.

The search continued into the early hours of Sunday. Traci Ayris, who was sailing nearby, reported hearing the helicopter searching for the woman. "We knew that someone was missing and then we saw the Coral Adventurer heading back to Lizard [Island] on our AIS tracker," she said. The helicopter returned at about 9:30 a.m. and quickly located the woman's body, although it was not recovered until later that day.

Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield expressed condolences to the woman's family, stating, "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." He confirmed that the company is cooperating with authorities during the investigation.

Queensland Police have classified the death as "sudden and non-suspicious" and are preparing a report for the coroner. The woman had been part of a hiking group on the Cook’s Look trail when she became separated from the others. Police confirmed she was reported missing after failing to board the cruise ship.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is also involved in the investigation and plans to meet the Coral Adventurer upon its arrival in Darwin later this week. An AMSA spokesperson stated, "AMSA takes the safety of passengers and crew onboard commercial vessels seriously."

Lizard Island is a remote destination known for its natural beauty and is popular among divers and hikers. The incident has raised questions about the search and rescue response time and the circumstances leading to the woman's death. Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to understand how the situation unfolded and ensure the safety of future passengers.