MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - An unfortunate incident occurred in which an 80-year-old cruise passenger, Suzanne Rees, was found dead on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef. This tragic event unfolded a day after she was accidentally left behind by the crew of the cruise ship Coral Adventurer.
Suzanne Rees, a resident of Sydney, was enjoying the second day of her cruise circumnavigating Australia when she disembarked at Lizard Island last Saturday. Her plan was to hike with fellow passengers to a mountain lookout. However, the scenario took a disastrous turn when the ship departed approximately five hours after she was last seen, leading to a search being initiated late on Saturday when she was reported missing.
Katherine Rees, Suzanne's daughter, expressed her devastation over the negligence exhibited by Coral Expeditions. In a statement, she condemned the cruise company for what she termed a "failure of care and common sense," suggesting that her mother was left to die alone under difficult circumstances. According to Katherine, Suzanne had experienced illness during the hike and had been instructed to descend from the hill without any escort. The ship, at that point, allegedly left without conducting a passenger count.
The following day, Suzanne Rees's body was discovered by the crew of a search helicopter, approximately 50 meters (about 55 yards) away from the hiking trail to the lookout. Reports indicated that she may have fallen from a cliff or slope during her descent.
In the wake of this tragedy, Katherine Rees has voiced hopes for a coroner's inquiry to determine what the cruise company could have done to prevent her mother's death. Authorities confirmed that the investigation would focus on the incident, which they deemed non-suspicious, thereby prompting a deeper examination into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment.
Mark Fifield, the chief executive of Coral Expeditions, extended his condolences to the Rees family while affirming the company’s full cooperation with the ongoing investigations. He emphasized the importance of not commenting further until the inquiries had concluded, in respect to the family's loss.
Additionally, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has launched its own investigation into why Suzanne Rees was not accounted for when passengers were boarding the Coral Adventurer at Lizard Island. This incident has rekindled discussions surrounding safety standards in Australia’s tourism sector, particularly in the Great Barrier Reef area. The scrutiny comes in light of past incidents, such as the infamous case in 1998 when American tourists Tom and Eileen Lonergan were abandoned at sea during a scuba diving excursion, leading to longstanding concerns about safety practices.
Suzanne Rees was first reported missing when she failed to appear for dinner on the ship, leading to a return to Lizard Island early Sunday morning for further searches. This incident has sparked renewed calls for improved safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
