A cruise that left an elderly woman stranded on a deserted island where she was later found deceased has been called off. 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 tragic event occurred during the initial leg of the 60-day voyage around Australia, which cost £40,000 per ticket.
The decision to cancel the remaining journey was communicated to passengers on Wednesday due to the unfortunate passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical problems, as stated by Coral Expeditions CEO, Mark Fifield. The solo traveler had been part of a guided hike with other tourists but got separated from the group when she fell ill. According to her daughter, Katherine Rees, Suzanne was instructed to descend the mountain alone, and the cruise departed without her.
Reportedly, Suzanne was not reported missing until 6 pm on Saturday when she failed to appear for dinner, approximately five hours after being left on Lizard Island. The ship returned to the island around 2 am on Sunday and her body was discovered 50 meters off the hiking trail leading to Cook’s Look, the highest point on Lizard Island. A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine why Suzanne did not rejoin the ship, including claims that a passenger count was not conducted before departure. The family criticized Coral Expeditions for what they described as a lack of care and common sense.
Following the incident, Coral Expeditions decided to refund all passengers and arrange their return via chartered flights. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a notice preventing new passengers from boarding the Coral Adventurer until further notice. Police are involved in the investigation, treating the death as sudden and non-suspicious. Meanwhile, Tourism Tropical North Queensland extended condolences to the family and awaits additional details pending the ongoing investigation.
Coral Expeditions’ CEO, Mark Fifield, expressed deep regret over the incident and assured full support to the woman’s family during this difficult time. Collaboration with authorities, including Queensland Police, is ongoing for the investigation. Further comments from the company are withheld until the investigation concludes.