An elderly woman, identified as Suzanne Rees, was discovered deceased on a remote island after being unintentionally left behind by a cruise ship. The incident occurred on Lizard Island within the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. Ms. Rees, aged 80, went missing while on an organized hike and was only noticed to be absent when she did not show up for dinner, approximately five hours later.
The family of Ms. Rees criticized Coral Expeditions, a company owned by the National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) in Australia, for what they called a lack of proper care and judgment. The cruise, part of a 60-day journey on the Coral Adventurer, was embarking on a tour around Australia, with a significant cost of £40,000 per person. An investigation involving multiple agencies is underway to determine the circumstances that led to Ms. Rees not rejoining the ship, including allegations that a passenger count was not conducted before departure.
Ms. Rees was found lifeless 50 meters off the designated hiking trail to Cook’s Look, the highest summit on Lizard Island. The Coral Adventurer had departed Cairns on Friday and had anchored at Lizard Island on Saturday, allowing passengers to explore the island through hiking and snorkeling activities. The ship left on Sunday around 1 pm, and a search operation was initiated after Ms. Rees was reported missing, with a helicopter conducting an aerial search over Lizard Island.
Mark Fifield, the CEO of Coral Expeditions, confirmed the tragic incident to the media, expressing regret for the situation and extending support to Ms. Rees’ family. The company is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation and refraining from further comments during this process. Queensland Police indicated that the death is being treated as sudden and non-suspicious, with a report to be prepared for the coroner as part of the official procedures.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland conveyed condolences to the family of the deceased woman and stated that further details are awaited due to the active investigation. Police are contributing to the inquiries, while a report is being readied for the coroner’s examination.
