A cruise that departed with a grandmother on a remote deserted island before she was discovered deceased has been halted. Suzanne Rees, 80, went missing after not showing up for dinner following a visit to Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The unfortunate incident occurred during the initial stop of the 60-day circumnavigation of Australia, costing £40,000 per ticket.
Passengers were informed on Wednesday that the rest of the journey was terminated due to the “tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues,” according to Mark Fifield, the CEO of Coral Expeditions, who made the announcement on Saturday.
The elderly tourist became separated from her group during an organized hike after falling ill. Despite being asked to return alone, the ship departed without her, as stated by her daughter, Katherine Rees. The daughter expressed dismay over the ship leaving without ensuring all passengers were onboard, leading to her mother passing away alone.
It was not until 6 pm on Saturday, around five hours after being abandoned on Lizard Island, that Ms. Rees was reported missing when she failed to attend dinner on the cruise. The vessel returned to the island around 2 am on Sunday, and her body was discovered 50 meters off the hiking trail to Lizard Island’s highest summit, Cook’s Look. The Coral Adventurer had only set sail from Cairns for the trip on Friday afternoon.
A thorough investigation involving multiple agencies will examine the circumstances surrounding Ms. Rees not reboarding the ship, including allegations of a lack of passenger count before departure. The family of Ms. Rees criticized Coral Expeditions for their alleged negligence.
The CEO confirmed the voyage cancellation on Wednesday, promising full refunds to passengers and organizing their return via chartered flights. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a notice prohibiting new passengers from boarding the Coral Adventurer, with officials set to meet the vessel upon its arrival in Darwin on Sunday.
While authorities are treating the incident as “sudden and non-suspicious,” police are aiding in the investigation. Tourism Tropical North Queensland extended condolences to the family and awaits further information pending the active investigation. A report will be compiled for the coroner.
Mark Fifield, Coral Expeditions’ CEO, expressed deep regret over the incident and assured full support to the family during the challenging period. The company is cooperating with authorities and refraining from further comments until the investigation is completed.