A passenger has been found dead on an exclusive resort island on the Great Barrier Reef after failing to board a cruise ship.

The woman in her 80s was part of Coral Expedition's cruise to Lizard Island, off the coast of Cooktown, on Saturday.

The ship's crew reported her missing to authorities after she did not board the vessel later that same day.

Search and rescue crews, who had been scouring the land and sea for her, found her dead on the island the following day. 

Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield offered his apology to the woman's family and said the company was working with authorities in their investigations.

"Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland," he said in a sta

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