An 80-year-old cruise passenger was found dead on a Great Barrier Reef island, a day after she was accidentally abandoned by her ship’s crew, Australian authorities confirmed.
According to The Associated Press, the woman, Suzanne Rees, from Sydney, had been traveling aboard the Coral Adventurer on a cruise circumnavigating Australia. On the second day of the trip, she disembarked at Lizard Island to join other passengers on a guided hike to a mountain lookout.
Officials said the cruise ship departed the island about five hours before reporting her missing late Saturday.
“We are shocked and saddened that the Coral Adventurer left Lizard Island after an organized excursion without my Mum,” Rees’ daughter, Katherine Rees, said in a statement.
“From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense. We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mum felt 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.”
A search helicopter later spotted her body about 50 meters off the hiking trail, according to The Australian. The report said she appeared to have fallen from a cliff or slope.
Police described the death as non-suspicious, and a coroner’s investigation is underway.
Coral Expeditions CEO Mark Fifield said the company is cooperating fully with authorities.
“We have expressed our heartfelt condolences to the Rees family and remain deeply sorry that this has occurred,” he said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and a workplace safety watchdog are also investigating why Rees was not accounted for before the ship departed.
Rees was first noticed missing when she did not show up for dinner, prompting the ship to return to Lizard Island early Sunday.
