An 80-year-old woman, Suzanne Rees, was discovered deceased on a secluded island after being left behind by a cruise ship. The incident occurred on Lizard Island in Queensland, Australia, part of the Great Barrier Reef. Ms. Rees went missing while on a guided hike on the island and was only noticed absent when she did not show up for dinner, five hours later. The cruise ship, operated by Coral Expeditions, departed for its next destination without her.
Family members of Ms. Rees criticized Coral Expeditions, a company owned by the National Roads and Motorists’ Association in Australia, for what they described as a lack of care and common sense. The cruise, which costs £40,000 per person, was the beginning of a 60-day journey around Australia on the Coral Adventurer. An investigation is underway to determine why Ms. Rees was not accounted for before the ship’s departure.
Ms. Rees’ body was discovered near a hiking trail on Lizard Island on Sunday, close to Cook’s Look, the island’s highest summit. The Coral Adventurer had set sail from Cairns just a day before the incident. The ship had anchored at Lizard Island for passengers to enjoy activities like hiking and snorkeling before departing on Sunday afternoon.
Following the report of Ms. Rees missing, a helicopter search was conducted over Lizard Island. The cruise ship returned to assist in the search efforts. Mark Fifield, the CEO of Coral Expeditions, confirmed the tragic news, expressing condolences to the family and stating their cooperation with authorities in the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are treating Ms. Rees’ death as sudden and non-suspicious. The investigation is ongoing, with police and tourism officials extending sympathies to the family. Further details are expected to be revealed as the investigation progresses, and a report will be submitted to the coroner for review.