The sudden death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees, left behind by the Coral Adventurer cruise ship during an excursion on Lizard Island, has left her family devastated.
The incident has sparked a full investigation into the cruise line’s safety protocols, per The Guardian.
The tragedy occurred on October 25, 2025, during the second day of a 60-day circumnavigation of Australia.
Rees Abandoned On Lizard Island
Suzanne Rees, a retired mother from New South Wales, was aboard the luxury Coral Adventurer, eagerly embarking on a dream cruise around Australia.
The ship made its first stop on Lizard Island, situated off the Far North Queensland coast.
On October 25, Rees joined an organized excursion, which included a hike to the island's Cook’s Look summit, a popular spot for its stunning views.
However, what was supposed to be a memorable experience quickly turned tragic when Rees failed to board the ship as scheduled.
Rees was left on Lizard Island. Credit: Family Handout
The cruise’s crew, apparently unaware that Rees had not returned, departed the island, reportedly without conducting a full passenger count.
Her body was discovered the following day, October 26, after a search was launched.
Queensland Police have described her death as “sudden and non-suspicious,” but the circumstances surrounding the incident have raised serious questions about the cruise’s safety practices.
Rees’ Daughter Speaks Out About Cruise Line’s Failure
Rees’ daughter, Katherine Rees, has since spoken out about the tragedy, expressing her anger and frustration at the cruise operator’s handling of the situation.
Speaking to The Australian on October 30, Katherine described the sequence of events as a "failure of care and common sense."
“We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum fell ill on the hill climb," Katherine said.
"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, Mum died, alone.”
Katherine, who described her mother as an active and healthy gardener, expressed her deep shock at the events.
“I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved Mum’s life,” she said, calling for a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Lizard Island is off the coast of Australia. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty
The Search for Suzanne Rees
Following the departure of the Coral Adventurer from Lizard Island, it was not until later that night, around 9:00PM, that the ship’s captain reported Rees as missing.
The delay in notifying authorities has raised further concerns, as it took several hours before a search party was deployed.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed that after receiving the report of a missing passenger, the ship turned around and returned to Lizard Island early on Sunday morning, but tragically, Rees was already deceased, as reported by BBC News.
AMSA has since launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on whether proper headcount procedures were followed and whether there was any non-compliance by the crew.
“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,” the safety authority said in a statement.
Coral Expeditions Expresses Regret and Offers Support
Coral Expeditions, the company responsible for the Coral Adventurer, issued a statement expressing regret over the tragic incident.
CEO Mark Fifield confirmed the death and said the company was fully cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the mishap, per News.com.au.
“Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland,” Fifield said.
“On Saturday, October 25, the crew notified authorities that a woman was missing, and a search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea.
"Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island.”
Fifield emphasized that Coral Expeditions was working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to investigate the incident.
“We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” he added.
“The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.”
Rees sadly died on the island after being unaccounted for. Credit: ullstein bild/Getty
A Full Investigation Underway
Queensland police, the state coroner, and WorkSafe Queensland are all involved in investigating the circumstances surrounding Rees’ death.
The investigation will focus on the timeline of events, including why Rees was not accounted for when the ship left the island and whether anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
Rees’ family is hopeful that the coronial inquiry will provide answers as to what went wrong and whether better safety measures could have saved her life.