A cruise has been called off after a grandmother was left on a remote deserted island before being discovered deceased. Suzanne Rees, 80, went missing when she didn’t show up for dinner after a visit to Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. She was found dead on the island, the initial stop of a 60-day voyage around Australia costing £40,000 per ticket.
Passengers were informed on Wednesday that the rest of the trip was canceled due to the “tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and prior mechanical issues,” according to Mark Fifield, the CEO of Coral Expeditions. The solo traveler had been on a guided hike with other tourists but got separated from the group after falling ill. Her daughter, Katherine Rees, revealed that her mother was instructed to hike back alone, and the cruise departed without her.
Ms. Rees was believed to have been reported missing at 6 pm on Saturday when she didn’t show up for dinner, approximately five hours after she was left on Lizard Island. The ship returned to the island around 2 am on Sunday, and her body was discovered 50 meters off the hiking trail leading to Cook’s Look, the highest summit on Lizard Island.
An investigation involving multiple agencies will look into why Ms. Rees was left behind and how it happened, including claims that a passenger count was not conducted before the ship left. The family of Ms. Rees criticized Coral Expeditions for their “lack of care and common sense.”
The CEO stated that the voyage was terminated on Wednesday, with full refunds being issued to all passengers. Efforts are underway to organize the return trips of the passengers via chartered flights. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has restricted new passengers from boarding the Coral Adventurer and will meet the vessel when it docks in Darwin on Sunday.
Authorities are treating the death as “sudden and non-suspicious,” and the police, along with other entities, are aiding in the investigation. Tourism Tropical North Queensland expressed condolences to the woman’s family and is awaiting further details as the inquiry progresses. Coral Expeditions’ CEO expressed deep regret over the incident and assured full support to the family during this challenging time.
