The grieving daughter of Suzanne Rees, who was reportedly left behind by a cruise ship on Lizard Island, speaks out about the tragic incident. Rees, 80, was found dead after the Coral Adventurer departed without her. Read more for details on the ongoing investigation.
A grieving daughter has shared her heartbreak after her mother, Suzanne Rees, 80, was allegedly left behind on a remote island by the Coral Adventurer cruise ship, only to be found dead the following day.
Suzanne, a retired woman from New South Wales, had embarked on what was meant to be the adventure of a lifetime—a 60-day Australian cruise costing tens of thousands of dollars. But the dream vacation quickly turned into a tragedy during the first stop at Lizard Island, Queensland.
According to Rees’ family, Suzanne had been on an organized hiking and snorkeling excursion that involved climbing the highest summit on the island. However, when she failed to board the cruise ship at the designated time, the vessel departed without her. The next day, a rescue helicopter found Suzanne’s body, with Queensland Police reporting her death as “sudden and non-suspicious.”
Now, Suzanne’s daughter, Katherine Rees, has spoken out, accusing the cruise company of a “failure of care and common sense.” Katherine told The Australian, “We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mom fell ill during the climb. She was asked to descend unescorted, and then the ship left without doing a passenger count. At some stage, or shortly after, Mom died, alone.”
Katherine expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating that her mother was “active and healthy” and never should have been left behind. She further emphasized her hopes that the coronial inquiry would reveal what could have been done to prevent her mother’s death.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has confirmed it is investigating the incident. They plan to meet with the crew when the Coral Adventurer docks in Darwin later this week. AMSA also noted that the ship’s captain reported Suzanne missing at around 9 p.m., prompting a search party that began hours later. Suzanne’s body was found the following day.
In a statement, Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield expressed deep sorrow for the tragic event and confirmed the cruise company was cooperating with authorities. “Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland,” Fifield said. “The company has been in contact with the family and will continue to offer support throughout this difficult process.”
The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to uncover the circumstances that led to Suzanne’s death.
