Investigators have boarded the Coral Adventurer cruise ship following the tragic death of Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old passenger left behind on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. The incident occurred during a 60-day luxury cruise around Australia, which was subsequently canceled.

Incident Details

Rees, an active bushwalker from Sydney, was part of a hiking group on Lizard Island when she decided to rest. The ship departed without her, only realizing her absence hours later. Her body was discovered on October 26, following a land and sea search initiated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) and Queensland Police. The Coral Adventurer had been about 100 kilometers away when it turned back to the island.

Investigation and Response

The Coral Adventurer, unable to dock in Cairns due to berth shortages, anchored off Yorkey's Knob. Amsa officials boarded the ship on Wednesday morning to begin their investigation. The cruise, which had faced mechanical issues prior to its departure, was canceled, and passengers were flown home from the Torres Strait islands with full refunds.

Family's Reaction

Katherine Rees, Suzanne's daughter, expressed her family's shock and sadness, emphasizing the need for the coroner's inquiry to determine what could have been done to prevent her mother's death. She highlighted the lack of a passenger count and the decision to leave her mother unescorted as critical failures.