Sunrise host Nat Barr has questioned how an elderly cruise passenger could have allegedly been left behind on a remote Queensland island prior to being found dead.
Authorities are investigating the death of the 80-year-old Coral Expeditions passenger, whose body was located on Lizard Island, off Far North Queensland, after she failed to return to the Coral Adventurer on Saturday.
The woman, a solo traveller on an $80,000 circumnavigation cruise, had been hiking toward the Cook’s Look summit with other passengers before she stopped to rest. She became separated from the group while attempting to make her way back to the ship.
A search was launched when she did not return to the vessel, which was anchored offshore at the time. Land and sea crews continued searching into the night and into the following morning.
Her body was later found around 50 metres from the trail and recovered from the island’s mountain terrain.
The incident has prompted questions regarding passenger safety and headcount procedures.
Witnesses anchored off the island on Saturday claimed the Coral Adventurer initially departed the area before eventually returning several hours later to search for the missing passenger by torchlight.
They also alleged that while a headcount was conducted when snorkellers re-boarded, passengers who had gone ashore did not undergo the same checks.
Speaking on Sunrise, Barr confronted a cruising expert about the apparent lapse.
“How does something like this happen?” she asked.
Cruise commentator Adrian Tassone acknowledged the concern.
“That’s something I’m really struggling to understand myself,’” he said.
“Cruise lines in normal operation will always know who is on the ship and who isn’t.
“If the reports are to be believed and this woman was left on the island, I really can’t understand how that occurred.
“It’s something that most people are questioning and are trying to come to grips with.”
Tassone explained that most companies use strict accountability systems.
“It’s unusual for numbers to not be known and checked, but I think what’s important in this instance is that it’s an expedition cruise,” he said.
He noted that expedition vessels differ from mainstream cruise liners in their operations.
“This ship held a maximum of 120 passengers, so I struggle to understand how a headcount wasn’t conducted.
“Typically, you get on a cruise ship and you scan a card that is your key card, which indicates when you’re on and off the ship. Those manifests I understand are across all cruise lines.
“I don’t know if Coral Expeditions operates in a different manner to that, but I am really surprised something more robust isn’t in place that should have prevented this from happening.”
Coral Expeditions declined to provide further details while investigations are underway.
“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” chief executive Mark Fifield said in a statement.
“The Coral team has been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
“We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is underway.”
The Cairns Post reported that a boat owner moored near the island had overheard radio communications during the search.
“They did headcounts for snorkellers (which we heard) but not for other guests on the island it would seem,’” Traci Ayris said.
“The last people came down from the track and got into tender then the (ship) left very soon after that.
“We even commented, ‘Wow they left fast’.”
She said the vessel did not return to search until later that evening.
Police are treating the woman’s death as non-suspicious and will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Lizard Island – a remote tourism destination on the Great Barrier Reef – is popular for hiking, diving and snorkelling.
Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, is named for Captain James Cook, who climbed the summit in 1770 while navigating the reef after the Endeavour struck coral.
Launched in 2019, the Coral Adventurer carries up to 120 passengers and 46 crew.
It is currently en route to Darwin where Australian Maritime Safety Authority officials are expected to meet the vessel as inquiries continue.
Images: Sunrise
