Trendpills
An 80-year-old cruise passenger has been found dead on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef after she was accidentally left behind by her tour vessel. The woman, identified as Suzanne Rees, was a guest aboard the Coral Adventurer, operated by Coral Expeditions.
The incident occurred after the ship made a stop at Lizard Island, a national park located approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Cairns, Queensland. Passengers were taken to the island for shore activities, including hiking. The ship departed on Saturday afternoon, but crew members later realized Ms. Rees was not on board. Her body was discovered on the island the following morning after an urgent search was initiated.
Coral Expeditions confirmed the "tragic death" in a statement, expressing deep sadness and extending condolences to the family. In the wake of a tragic incident on a Great Barrier Reef island, the company is providing full cooperation to the authorities. The daughter of the deceased has publicly criticized the cruise line for what she termed a “failure of care and common sense,” questioning how a passenger could be left behind without a proper headcount before departure.
Following the event, the vessel's operator canceled the remainder of the voyage, which was the first leg of a scheduled 60-day circumnavigation of Australia. The Coral Adventurer, which can carry up to 120 passengers, returned to Cairns with all guests.
Both the Queensland Police Service and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are conducting separate inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident. An AMSA spokesperson stated that their investigation would focus on the ship’s operational procedures, including its safety management system and passenger count protocols. While a report will be prepared for the coroner, Australian authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the full sequence of events that led to the passenger being abandoned.
