The tragic death of 80-year-old Suzanne Rees, left behind by her luxury cruise ship during an excursion on Lizard Island, has left her family devastated.
Her sad passing has prompted a serious investigation into the safety procedures of Coral Expeditions, per The Guardian.
The incident occurred on October 25, 2025, during the second day of a 60-day circumnavigation of Australia aboard the Coral Adventurer.
A Dream Trip Turns Into a Nightmare
Suzanne Rees, from Sydney, was part of a group of passengers who disembarked the Coral Adventurer at Lizard Island, located in the Great Barrier Reef, for an organized hike to the island's Cook’s Look mountain.
However, unbeknownst to both the crew and the passengers, Rees did not make it back to the ship before it departed the island that afternoon.
The ship, a luxury vessel with space for 120 passengers, had no apparent headcount to confirm all passengers were on board.
Rees’ daughter, Katherine Rees, expressed her shock and deep sadness over the incident.
She spoke out on October 30, saying: “From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense.”
Katherine emphasized that her mother, a healthy gardener and avid bushwalker, was in good health at the time and that the hot conditions during the hike may have contributed to her mother feeling ill.
"Mum was asked to head down, unescorted," Katherine continued.
"Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone."
The Search for Suzanne Rees
Following the departure of the Coral Adventurer from Lizard Island, the ship’s crew failed to account for Rees as part of its routine headcount procedure.
It wasn’t until the ship’s master notified authorities around 9:00PM that night that a search was initiated.
According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the ship turned around before 9:00PM, returning to Lizard Island early on Sunday morning, but by then, Rees had already passed away.
AMSA’s investigation focuses on why Rees was not accounted for during boarding, with a potential review of the cruise line's passenger-checking procedures underway, per News.com.au.
AMSA stated in a release: “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.”
Rees was left on Lizard Island. Credit: ullstein bild / Getty
The Investigation and Ongoing Support for the Family
The Queensland police, the state coroner, and WorkSafe Queensland are all involved in investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Rees.
While police confirmed that the death was “sudden and non-suspicious,” they are reviewing the timeline of events, including why the woman failed to board and whether anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
Coral Expeditions, in a statement from CEO Mark Fifield, expressed deep sympathy for the family’s loss.
“We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” Fifield said.
“While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation.”
Rees sadly died on the island. Credit: ullstein bild / Getty
Coral Expeditions Responds
In addition to their condolences, Coral Expeditions announced that the company was fully cooperating with the authorities involved in the investigation.
The company also noted that the incident occurred during a stop on their Cape York and Arnhem Land tour, which includes a visit to Lizard Island, known for its rich Aboriginal cultural history and world-class snorkelling.
Coral Expeditions confirmed that their vessel, the Coral Adventurer, carries up to 120 passengers and 46 crew members.
The ship had departed from Lizard Island after the organized excursion without confirming that all passengers had returned.
Once the missing passenger was reported, a full search and rescue operation was launched by Queensland authorities.
Fifield reassured the public that they were working to understand exactly how the oversight occurred and whether proper procedures were followed.
“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,” he said.