An 80-year-old woman tragically lost her life after being left behind by a cruise ship during a stop at a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef, raising serious questions about safety protocols and passenger accountability.
According to The Guardian, Suzanne Rees, a resident of New South Wales, had joined a group of fellow passengers on a guided hike at Lizard Island, which was the first stop of the Coral Adventurer’s 60-day Australian cruise.
The excursion, part of a luxury cruise with tickets for balcony rooms costing approximately $86,400 per person, was intended as a scenic adventure through one of Australia’s most picturesque natural locations.
However, when the group returned to the ship, Rees was not among the passengers boarding the Coral Adventurer. It was only hours later that her absence was discovered, leading to a tragic sequence of events. Family Speaks Out About Cruise Company’s Alleged Negligence. While authorities are treating Rees’ death as “sudden and non-suspicious,” her family believes that the cruise line may have failed in its duty of care. Her daughter, Katherine Rees, expressed profound shock and sorrow over the circumstances. Speaking to The Australian, Katherine detailed the events that she believes led to her mother’s death.
“From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense,” Katherine said. “We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum fell ill while climbing a hill. She was asked to head down on her own, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a proper passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone. I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved Mum’s life.”
Timeline of the Incident
Queensland Police confirmed that the Coral Adventurer, a 306-foot-long vessel with a passenger capacity of 120 and 48 crew members, raised the alarm over Rees’ disappearance on Saturday, October 25. A search operation was launched the following morning at 12:45 a.m., including the deployment of a rescue helicopter. Rees’ body was discovered later that day, October 26, on Lizard Island, bringing an abrupt and tragic end to what had been intended as a leisurely cruise excursion.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed that they are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger was not accounted for during boarding. A spokesman stated, “We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding. It is critical to determine whether standard protocols were followed and what steps can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Cruise Line Issues Statement
In response to the tragedy, Mark Fifield, chief executive of Coral Expeditions, issued a statement acknowledging the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island,” he said. He further explained that “a search and rescue operation was launched on both land and sea immediately after her absence was reported. Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island. While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.”
Cruise Safety and Passenger Accountability Under Scrutiny
The incident has reignited public debate over cruise safety, especially during off-ship excursions to remote locations. Critics have noted that stringent protocols should be in place to ensure that all passengers are accounted for before a vessel departs. Lizard Island, while known for its natural beauty and hiking trails, is also an isolated location where exposure to heat and physical exertion can pose serious risks, particularly to older passengers or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Experts have stressed that cruise operators must ensure proper staffing and supervision during excursions, including regular headcounts, emergency response readiness, and immediate medical assistance for anyone showing signs of distress. In this case, authorities are investigating whether lapses in these safety measures contributed to Rees’ death.
Family Calls for Accountability
The Rees family hopes that the coronial inquiry will shed light on what went wrong and hold the cruise company accountable if negligence is found. Katherine Rees has stated that the family’s priority is to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future, emphasizing that no passenger should ever be left behind in a remote location. “Losing Mum in this way has been devastating,” Katherine said. “We need answers, and we need to know what procedures should have been followed to keep her safe. Hopefully, this inquiry will ensure that something like this never happens again.”
Ongoing Investigation
As of now, investigations are ongoing, with Queensland Police and AMSA reviewing all aspects of the excursion and cruise operations, including passenger checklists, staff oversight, and emergency protocols. Coral Expeditions has pledged full cooperation with authorities and emphasized their commitment to improving safety measures to prevent such a tragedy in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities cruise operators bear in protecting their passengers, particularly in remote locations where immediate assistance may be limited.
