A luxury 60-day cruise has been cancelled after the death of an elderly passenger who was left behind on a remote island off Queensland.
The body of Suzanne Rees, 80, was found on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef about 27km off Cooktown, on October 26 — a day after the Coral Adventurer cruise departed without her.
The vessel, operated by Coral Expeditions, had left Cairns on October 24, with Lizard Island as its first stop.
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It continued its scheduled route after the tragedy until Wednesday, when the company’s CEO Mark Fifield cancelled the remainder of the voyage.
“On Wednesday evening, Coral Expeditions notified passengers and crew onboard the Coral Adventurer vessel that, following the tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues, the decision had been made to cancel the remainder of the voyage.” Fifield said in a statement on Saturday.
“Since that time, our team has worked to coordinate the return journeys of the passengers via chartered flights, as well as the crew and the vessel.
“The Coral team prides itself on delivering high quality experiences to our guests. It was increasingly apparent given the circumstances of the last week that we could not deliver on this promise.”
Suzanne Rees was found dead on Lizard Island. Credit: Katherine Rees/AP
He said passengers would receive a full refund.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said on Saturday the cruise has been prohibited from embarking any new passengers.
“AMSA understands the Coral Adventurer is intending to return to Cairns where AMSA will attend it on arrival,” a spokesperson said.
It’s understood passengers had been offered options to hike or snorkel when the ship arrived at its first stop, and Rees joined a group hiking to the island’s highest peak, Cook’s Look.
The 4km trail is described in the ship’s brochure as “a very difficult hike requiring a high level of fitness and good balance”, and conditions that day reached nearly 30C.
Suzanne Rees has been identified as the elderly woman who died after being left alone on Lizard Island, Queensland. Credit: Supplied
7NEWS understands Rees struggled during the hike and decided to turn back alone, but never returned to the ship.
Without noticing her absence, the Coral Adventurer reportedly left the island about 3.40pm on October 25.
The crew only realised she was missing when she failed to appear for dinner about 6pm, prompting the vessel to return about 8.40pm.
Her body was found the following day, about 50m off the walking track.
Rees’s daughter, Katherine Rees, said the family was “shocked and saddened” that the cruise ship had departed without her mother.
Suzanne Rees’s body was discovered on Sunday afternoon, not far from where she had been hiking. Credit: Traci Ayris
“From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense,” she said on Thursday.
She described her mother as an “active 80-year-old” who was a keen bushwalker and gardener.
“We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum fell ill on the hill climb,” she said.
“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.”
Katherine has called for a coronial inquest into her mother’s death to determine what more could have been done.
Staterooms on the Coral Adventurer cost more than $80,000 for the trip, with the vessel holding a maximum of 120 passengers.
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