Cruise Ship Passenger Found Dead on Australian Island After Being Left Behind
A family is alleging a “failure of care and common sense” after an 80-year-old woman was discovered deceased on Lizard Island, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, after being inadvertently left behind by the Coral Adventurer cruise ship. The incident, which occurred on October 26th, has prompted multiple investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Suzanne Rees, a Sydney resident.
The incident unfolded during the second day of a 60-day luxury circumnavigation of Australia. Rees and other passengers disembarked at Lizard Island, a remote location on the Great Barrier Reef, for a planned hike to Cook’s Look mountain. However, Rees did not return to the ship before its scheduled departure that afternoon.
“From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense,” stated Katherine Rees, the daughter of the deceased, on Thursday. She expressed her family’s shock and sadness that the vessel departed without ensuring her mother was onboard.
According to information provided to the family by authorities, Rees became unwell during the climb and was advised to descend the mountain alone. It is alleged that the ship subsequently left Lizard Island without conducting a passenger count. “At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone,” Katherine Rees explained. She described her mother as a healthy and active individual, a dedicated gardener, and a member of a bushwalking group.
Investigations Underway
Multiple agencies are currently investigating the incident. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) was notified by the Coral Adventurer’s master at 9 p.m. on Saturday and immediately initiated a land and sea search in conjunction with Queensland Police. Amsa is now investigating whether proper passenger accounting procedures were followed before the ship’s departure.
“Amsa will make an assessment as to whether there was any non-compliance associated with the passenger not being counted onto the ship and, if necessary, will take action to address them,” the safety authority said in a statement on Wednesday. Queensland police, the state coroner, and WorkSafe Queensland are also involved in the investigation.
VesselFinder tracking data reveals the Coral Adventurer reversed course before 9 p.m. on Saturday, returning to Lizard Island in the early hours of Sunday morning. Despite the swift return, Rees was found deceased on the island.
Luxury Cruise, High Price Tag
The Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions, is marketed as a luxury cruise experience. According to a listing on Clean Cruising, balcony rooms on the 120-guest vessel are priced at $86,400 per person.
Coral Expeditions’ chief executive, Mark Fifield, acknowledged the “tragic death of a passenger” in a statement earlier this week. “A search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea,” he said. “Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island. While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.”
Queensland police reported on Tuesday that a woman, identified as Rees, was reported missing after failing to board the vessel on Saturday.
Katherine Rees hopes the coronial inquiry will determine what actions could have been taken to prevent her mother’s death. The family seeks answers and accountability in the wake of this devastating loss.
