New tragic details have emerged regarding an 80-year-old woman who passed away after her cruise ship left without her.
On October 25, 2025, Suzanne Rees from New South Wales disembarked from the luxury cruise ship Coral Expeditions’ vessel Coral Adventurer to join an organised hike on remote Lizard Island — part of the ship’s 60‑day circumnavigation of Australia.
During the hike towards Cook’s Look, the island’s highest point, Rees reportedly became unwell and did not return to the ship that afternoon.
Ships Departure and Emergency Response
After the excursion ended, the Coral Adventurer sailed from Lizard Island without realising a passenger was missing.
It was only at around 10:00PM (AEST) that the ship alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) via Queensland Police that Suzanne Rees had not boarded, per The Guardian.
A helicopter search the following morning located her body approximately 50 metres off the hiking trail near Cook’s Look. The death has been classified as “sudden and non‑suspicious” by authorities.
Rees was left on Lizard Island. Credit: Facebook
Witnesses Raise Concerns Over Head‑Counts
While the rescue operation unfolded, yacht owner Traci Ayris and her partner Matthew — anchored nearby on a different cruise ship — reported hearing emergency radio signals from Coral Expeditions.
“They did headcounts for snorkellers (which we heard) but not for other guests on the island, it would seem,” Ayris told the Cairns Post. “The last people came down from the track and got into tender, then the (ship) left very soon after that.”
Ayris added: “We watched the search up the mountain. Until the search was called off around 3 am and then resumed again at first light. The chopper arrived at first light, and it went directly to Telstra Rock (where she was last seen), and immediately it hovered, then went straight to the air strip.
"We knew that it had found her, and the lack of activity told us that she was clearly dead. She lay there all day and was finally air‑lifted (from the island) at 3:42PM.”
Coral Adventurer have launched an investigation. Credit: Coral Adventurer
Family Speaks Out: “Failure of Care”
In the days following the tragedy, Suzanne’s daughter, Katherine Rees, criticised the cruise company for what she described as a “failure of care and common sense,” per The Australian.
She said her mother, a healthy gardener and bushwalker, was asked to head down the mountain unescorted.
“Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone.”
Katherine added that her mother’s ill‑health during the hike — potentially exacerbated by the hot conditions — should have triggered more oversight.
Rees was left on Lizard Island. Credit: ullstein bild / Getty
Cruise Line Responds and Investigation Underway
Coral Expeditions’ CEO Mark Fifield released a statement on October 28 saying: “Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island, per News.com.au.
"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.
"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. We are working closely with Queensland police and other authorities to support their investigation.”
The company confirmed the Coral Adventurer carries up to 120 passengers and 46 crew members, and that the ship had departed Lizard Island without confirming that all passengers had returned.
Meanwhile, an AMSA spokesperson said the authority is assessing “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“.
They stated: “We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding why the passenger may not have been accounted for during boarding.”