In a tragic incident, an 80-year-old cruise passenger, Suzanne Rees, was found dead on Lizard Island, part of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, a day after being accidentally abandoned by the crew of the Coral Adventurer. The Sydney resident had disembarked on Saturday for a planned hike to a mountain lookout with fellow passengers. However, the ship departed approximately five hours before reporting her missing later that evening. Her daughter, Katherine Rees, has accused Coral Expeditions of a ‘failure of care and common sense,’ alleging that her mother was left unescorted after feeling ill during the hike. The crew reportedly failed to conduct a passenger count before leaving the island. Suzanne Rees’ body was discovered the following day about 50 meters off the hiking trail, with evidence suggesting she had fallen from a cliff or slope. Katherine Rees has called for a coroner’s inquiry to determine whether the cruise company could have prevented her mother’s death. Coral Expeditions’ CEO, Mark Fifield, expressed condolences and assured full cooperation with ongoing investigations. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and a workplace safety watchdog are also probing the incident. This tragedy has reignited concerns about safety standards in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef tourism industry, reminiscent of the 1998 case where an American couple was abandoned at sea and never found.
Cruise passenger, 80, found dead after being abandoned on Great Barrier Reef island
