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Investigation launched after elderly passenger dies on Lizard Island
Australian authorities have boarded the Coral Adventurer cruise ship over a week after an 80-year-old passenger was left behind on a remote island and later found dead, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Suzanne Rees, a Sydney resident, had been hiking on Lizard Island-part of the Great Barrier Reef-with fellow passengers on October 25 when she separated from the group to rest. The vessel departed without her, and crew only realized she was missing hours later, according to her family. A search team located her body the following day.
Regulatory and police inquiry underway
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) led the boarding operation in Cairns on Wednesday, joining Queensland Police and the state coroner in examining the incident. AMSA declined to comment on the ongoing probe, citing investigative protocols.
Rees' daughter, Katherine Rees, criticized the cruise operator last week, stating the family was "shocked and saddened" by the "failure of care and common sense." She revealed her mother, an active member of a bushwalking group, had been asked to descend the trail unescorted before the ship's departure. "At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, mum died, alone," she told reporters.
"We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum fell ill on the hill climb. She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count."
Katherine Rees, daughter of Suzanne Rees
Cruise cancellation and passenger disembarkation
The 60-day Australian coastal voyage, priced in the tens of thousands per guest, was terminated early due to Rees' death and prior mechanical delays. Passengers disembarked at Horn Island over the weekend and were flown to the mainland via charter, while the Coral Adventurer-built for remote expeditions with capacity for 120 guests and 46 crew-anchored near Yorkey's Knob on Tuesday after Cairns port congestion blocked docking.
Tracking data indicated a tender vessel ferried personnel between shore and ship Tuesday night. Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield previously expressed "deep sorrow" over the tragedy and pledged cooperation with authorities. "We are working closely with Queensland Police and other agencies to support their investigation," he stated last week.
Timeline of events
- October 24: Ship departs Cairns at ~07:30 local time after a week-long mechanical delay.
- October 25: Passengers visit Lizard Island (Jiigurru/Dyiigurra) for hiking and snorkeling. Rees separates from the group; ship leaves without her. A late-night search fails to locate her.
- October 26: Rees' body is discovered on the island.
- November 5: AMSA boards the vessel as part of the multi-agency inquiry.
Family demands answers
Katherine Rees called for the coroner's inquiry to determine "what the company should have done that might have saved mum's life." Police reports suggest Rees collapsed during the hike on a day with extreme heat. The family's statements imply procedural lapses, including an alleged failure to conduct a passenger headcount before departure.
The Coral Adventurer remains anchored off Yorkey's Knob with a reduced crew, per maritime tracking data. Authorities have not specified when the investigation will conclude.
