The grieving family of an elderly woman who died on a tropical island after allegedly being left behind by a cruise ship has called for a coronial inquest.

An investigation has been launched after the body of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees from NSW was found on far north Queensland's Lizard Island.

Her daughter on Thursday said the family was shattered that their mother had died alone after a "failure of care and common sense" and demanded answers.

Tragedy struck after Ms Rees was hiking with a group on the island north of Cairns, disembarking from Coral Expeditions' Coral Adventurer cruise ship on October 25.

She is believed to have pulled out of the hike and attempted to walk back alone to the ship but never returned.

The ship allegedly left the island without her hours later before her a

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