An 80-year-old woman has died on a remote island in Far North Queensland after the cruise ship she was traveling on departed without her. The passenger, identified as Australian retiree Suzanne Rees, was on a shore excursion from the Coral Adventurer vessel when the incident occurred on October 25.
Queensland Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding her death, which has been described as sudden and non-suspicious. The woman's family has expressed profound grief and is calling for a full inquiry into the ship's procedures.
Key Takeaways
- Suzanne Rees, 80, died alone on Lizard Island after her cruise ship, the Coral Adventurer, departed.
- She was part of an organized hiking and snorkeling tour from the ship, which was on the first stop of a 60-day voyage.
- Her family alleges a "failure of care and common sense," stating she was told to return to the ship unescorted after feeling unwell.
- The passenger was not reported missing until she failed to appear for dinner, several hours after the ship had left the island.
- Coral Expeditions, the ship's operator, has confirmed the death and is cooperating with authorities.
A Day Trip Ends in Tragedy
Suzanne Rees was a passenger on the Coral Adventurer, a vessel carrying a maximum of 120 guests, which had embarked on a 60-day circumnavigation of Australia. The trip, valued at over $52,000 USD, made its first stop at Lizard Island, located 56 miles northeast of Cooktown.
On October 25, Ms. Rees joined an organized excursion that included a hike on the island. She reportedly began to feel unwell while attempting to climb the challenging 2.5-mile trail to Cook's Look, the island's highest point.
Her daughter, Katherine Rees, has since spoken about the devastating sequence of events. "We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mom fell ill on the hill climb," she stated.
"She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mom died, alone."
The alarm was not raised until hours later. It was only when Ms. Rees did not arrive for dinner around 6 p.m. that staff realized she was missing. By then, the Coral Adventurer had already departed the area.
About Lizard Island
Lizard Island is a remote, exclusive destination in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The hike to Cook's Look is a three-hour round trip described by local resorts as "challenging" and suitable for individuals with a medium to high level of fitness.
Family Seeks Answers Amidst Grief
The family is struggling to comprehend how such a situation could occur. Katherine Rees expressed her hope that a formal investigation would clarify the protocols that should have been in place.
"I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved Mom’s life," she said, highlighting the family's belief that there was a significant "failure of care."
After being alerted to the missing passenger, the cruise ship turned around. A search party of approximately seven crew members was dispatched in a smaller boat to search the island with torches in the dark. The search continued into the next day, when a Nautilus Aviation helicopter located Ms. Rees's body.
Questions Raised Over Cruise Ship Protocols
The incident has raised serious questions about standard safety procedures in the cruise industry. Experts are particularly puzzled given the small size of the vessel, which would seemingly make passenger tracking more manageable.
Cruise industry expert Adrian Tassone commented on the situation, expressing his difficulty in understanding the lapse. "Cruise lines in normal sort of operation will always know who is on the ship and who is off the ship," Tassone explained. He noted that systems are typically in place to prevent such incidents.
Most modern cruise ships use a key card system. Passengers scan their cards when disembarking and re-boarding, allowing the crew to maintain a real-time digital manifest of who is on and off the vessel at all times.
"This ship held a maximum of 120 passengers, so I struggle to understand how a headcount wasn’t conducted," Tassone added. "I am really surprised something more robust isn’t in place that should have prevented this from happening."
Cruise Line Responds as Investigation Begins
Coral Expeditions, the operator of the Coral Adventurer, issued a statement confirming the death. Mark Fifield, the company's chief executive, expressed his condolences.
"Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland," the statement read. "We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family."
The company confirmed it notified authorities as soon as the passenger was discovered missing and is now working closely with Queensland Police. When asked about financial matters, such as refunding the cruise fare, a spokesperson stated the company would not comment on private conversations with the family but reiterated its commitment to offering them support.
A full police investigation is underway, and a coronial inquest is expected to follow to determine the precise cause of death and examine the operational procedures of the cruise line.
