SYDNEY, Australia – A family is demanding answers and a full coronial inquest after their 80-year-old mother was found dead on a remote Australian island, allegedly abandoned by a luxury cruise ship that left port without her.
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| Suzanne Rees was on a luxury 60-day cruise in Australia, when she was left behind on Lizard Island and later found dead, her daughter alleges. |
The victim, Suzanne Rees, was a passenger on a 60-day voyage aboard the Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions. The incident, which her daughter decries as "a failure of care and common sense," has triggered a multi-agency investigation into the vessel's passenger safety protocols.
The Hike That Led to Tragedy
The tragedy began to unfold on Saturday when passengers were on a group hiking tour of Lizard Island, a remote national park approximately 200 miles north of Cairns.
Rees's daughter, Katherine, told ABC Australia that her mother had felt unwell during the excursion. "We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt ill on the hill climb," Katherine said.
In what the family views as a critical failure, Rees was reportedly "asked to head down [the trail], unescorted."
She never made it back. The Coral Adventurer weighed anchor and departed the island at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday.
A Four-Hour Delay in Reporting
Alarmingly, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the nation's maritime regulator, was not notified of the missing passenger until 10 p.m. Saturday a full four hours after the ship had left.
AMSA confirmed it was the vessel itself that finally reported the incident, prompting an immediate response. Witnesses on shore reported hearing commotion on the ship's radio and observed the Coral Adventurer returning to the island hours after its departure.
An AMSA spokesperson stated they immediately assisted Queensland Police in a search and rescue operation. The search ended in tragedy on Sunday when Ms. Rees was found dead on the island.
Investigation Focuses on "Failure to Count"
The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the ship's operational procedures. AMSA has launched a formal investigation to determine if the vessel's crew violated national law.
"AMSA will make an assessment as to whether there was any non-compliance associated with the passenger not being counted onto the ship and, if necessary, will take action to address them," an AMSA spokesperson wrote in a statement.
The regulator confirmed it is "investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding."
Investigators are planning to board the Coral Adventurer when it docks in Darwin to conduct further inquiries. The vessel is regulated under the Australian Navigation Act 2012, which governs maritime safety and crew responsibilities.
A Family Demands Accountability
For Katherine Rees and her family, the central question is whether this death was preventable. The belief that the ship's crew failed to perform a simple passenger head-count before departing a remote location is at the heart of their call for a full public inquest.
"From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense," the victim's daughter said.
On Wednesday, the Coroner's Court of Queensland confirmed that Suzanne Rees's death has officially "been referred to the coroner for investigation." Once that investigation is complete, a formal decision on launching a public inquest will be made.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said the company has been in contact with the family and offered its "full support."
"While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred," Fifield said in a statement.
AMSA offered its condolences to the family, adding, "Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time."