An 80-year-old Australian woman was found dead on Sunday on an island in the Great Barrier Reef after her cruise ship departed without realizing she was missing.

The woman had become separated from the walking group on Lizard Island, about 250 kilometers north of Cairns, and never made it back to the ship. According to authorities, the 80-year-old had joined an organized hike on Saturday to the island’s highest point, known as Cook’s Look, along with other passengers from the cruise ship Coral Adventurer.

Several hours later, the ship returned to the island and a major search operation began, involving crew members and helicopters. Her body was discovered on Sunday morning. Authorities have not released details regarding the cause of death, but Queensland Police described it as a “sudden and non-suspicious death.” A report will be submitted to the coroner.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) announced that it is investigating the incident and will meet with the ship’s crew within the week. A spokesperson said they were informed of the disappearance around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday by the ship’s captain and will cooperate with relevant agencies, emphasizing that “the safety of passengers and crew on commercial vessels is of the utmost priority.”

Mark Fifield, CEO of Coral Expeditions, expressed condolences to the woman’s family and said the company is “providing full support to her relatives.” “We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working closely with Queensland Police and relevant authorities as the investigation continues,” he stated, declining to comment further while the process is ongoing.

The Coral Adventurer is a vessel with a capacity of up to 120 passengers and 46 crew members, designed for voyages to remote areas of the Australian coastline, equipped with small boats for day excursions. Following the incident, the ship continued its journey toward Darwin, according to the company.