An 80-year-old woman, Suzanne Rees, died after being left behind on Lizard Island during a luxury cruise. The Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions, departed the island without her, and her body was later found. The ship has since been rerouted to Cairns, where investigations continue.
Rees boarded the 60-day circumnavigation of Australia on 24 October. The following day, she felt unwell and was asked to descend from a hike unescorted. She never returned to the ship, which left Lizard Island at 3:40pm. Authorities were alerted five hours later, prompting a search.
Her daughter, Katherine Rees, expressed shock that the ship left without her mother. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a notice prohibiting new passengers from boarding and is investigating why Rees was not accounted for.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield stated the company prides itself on high-quality experiences but acknowledged the circumstances prevented that. All passengers have been disembarked and given full refunds, with the ship sailing to Cairns for further investigation.
Queensland police have deemed the death non-suspicious, and a coronial investigation is underway. AMSA and Coral Expeditions have offered condolences to the family.
