What was meant to be the adventure of a lifetime ended in tragedy for Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old retired woman from New South Wales. The passenger on the Coral Adventurer cruise liner was reportedly left behind on a remote Australian island after a shore excursion, and her body was discovered the following day. The incident has sparked a fierce response from her family and prompted multiple investigations into the cruise operator’s safety protocols.
The tragedy unfolded during the first stop of a luxurious 60-day cruise around Australia. Rees was participating in an organized hiking and snorkeling excursion on Lizard Island, a location known for its rugged terrain. According to statements from her family, the retiree fell ill during a strenuous hill climb on what was described as a very hot day. They allege she was then instructed to head back down to the shore unescorted.
The situation escalated when the Coral Adventurer vessel allegedly departed from Lizard Island without Rees on board. Her daughter, Katherine Rees, has publicly stated that she is “shocked and saddened” that the ship left without her mother, claiming it apparently did so without conducting a proper passenger count. This left the elderly woman stranded alone on the remote island.
A massive search and rescue operation was launched after the ship’s captain reported a passenger missing later that evening. Tragically, the mission turned into a recovery effort when rescue helicopter workers located Suzanne Rees’s body the next day. Queensland Police have described her death as “sudden and non-suspicious,” but the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
In the wake of the incident, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has confirmed it is looking into the death. Coral Expeditions, the company operating the ship, has issued a statement expressing that they are “deeply sorry” and are cooperating with authorities. For the grieving family, the focus is now on the upcoming coronial inquiry, which they hope will determine what the company could have done to prevent this devastating outcome.
