Lizard Island cruise tragedy: Family demands answers after 80yo Suzanne Rees left behind on remote island
The daughter of an elderly woman who died after being left behind on Lizard Island has spoken out, saying it appeared there was a “failure of care and common sense” that led to her mother dying alone.
Suzanne Rees, from NSW, is being remembered by family as a healthy, active 80‑year‑old who loved gardening and bushwalking before her sudden death over the weekend on the remote Great Barrier Reef island.
Speaking to The Australian, her daughter Katherine Rees said the family was “shocked and saddened that the Coral Adventurer left Lizard Island after an organised excursion without my mum, Suzanne.”
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense,” Ms Rees said.
“We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum fell ill on the hill climb. She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count. At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum died, alone.”
Ms Rees said she hoped a coronial inquest would clarify how the tragedy unfolded.
“I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved Mum’s life.”
Suzanne Rees was not reported missing for at least five hours
It’s been revealed that Suzanne was not reported missing for at least five hours after the cruise ship she was meant to have boarded sailed away.
The NRMA-owned Coral Expeditions cruise liner only raised the alarm after the elderly tourist failed to attend her dinner sitting following a day trip to Lizard Island off the coast of Queensland.
Alerts were raised and staff began scouring the ship for the 80-year-old Suzanne from NSW, who was found dead 50 metres off the hiking trail at Cook’s Look on the island on Saturday afternoon.
All available emergency services were engaged in the search, with Queensland Police, the state coroner, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority all now involved in the investigation into her death.
Initial reports from police suggest the alarm was not raised for more than five hours following the ship’s departure from its mooring off the small island 27km off Cooktown in far north Queensland.
It is understood she stopped to rest and was later separated from the group.
The Australian reported the ship first raised the alarm at 10pm Queensland time, when staff on board the ship alerted AMSA’s Canberra-based 24/7 emergency hotline, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, stating they believed she may have fallen overboard.
The Coral Adventurer was turned around, and a group of crew members were sent ahead in a tender to conduct a night search for the Suzanne.
“The woman was reported missing to the police on 25 October, after failing to board a vessel in waters off Queensland earlier on Saturday,” Queensland Police confirmed.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield told The Nightly the company has confirmed the tragic death of a passenger during an excursion to Lizard Island.
“On Saturday, 25 October, the Crew notified authorities that a woman was missing, and a search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea,” he said.
“Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island”.
Mr Filfeild noted that while investigations into the incident are continuing, they feel deeply for the woman’s family.
“We are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family,” he said.
“The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
“We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation. We are unable to comment further while this process is underway.”
A source told The Australian the elderly woman was “struggling” on the hike because it was very hot with 30C temperatures and 63 per cent humidity on the day.
