Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old woman from New South Wales, was found dead on Lizard Island after reportedly being left behind by her luxury cruise ship, the Coral Adventurer. Rees had joined other passengers on a guided hike during the first stop of a 60-day voyage around Australia, with tickets costing up to $80,000.
During the hike, she became separated from the group after stopping to rest. The ship departed at sunset, unaware she was missing. Hours later, the crew realized she hadn’t returned and turned back. A search team using a helicopter found her body the next morning.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident, focusing on safety and passenger oversight aboard high-end cruises. Police are also examining whether Rees might have survived if she’d been reported missing sooner.
Her daughter, Katherine, told The Sun that her mother had fallen ill on the island and was asked to climb back down the mountain alone. “Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone,” she said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed it is investigating why Rees was not accounted for during boarding. “It is critical to determine whether standard protocols were followed and what steps can be taken to prevent similar incidents,” an AMSA spokesperson stated.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said the company is cooperating fully with investigators but declined to share further details. “We have expressed our heartfelt condolences to the Rees family and remain deeply sorry this occurred,” he said.
The tragedy has sparked national concern over cruise ship safety standards and passenger accountability procedures.
Rees’s family remains in shock, mourning the loss of a mother and grandmother who had set out on what was meant to be the trip of a lifetime.