Investigators have boarded an Australian cruise ship following the death of an 80-year-old female passenger, Suzanne Rees, who was reportedly left behind on Lizard Island. Ms. Rees had been hiking with other passengers from the Coral Adventurer, but she separated from the group to rest. The vessel departed without her, returning several hours later after crew members became aware of her absence.
Officials from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) began their investigation on the ship, accompanied by Queensland Police and the state coroner. However, AMSA has refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation. The cruise, which was meant to last 60 days and cost passengers significant amounts, was canceled in light of Ms. Rees’s death and mechanical issues affecting the ship.
The Coral Adventurer was expected to dock in Cairns, where the cruise operator, Coral Expeditions, is located; however, it instead anchored near Yorkey’s Knob after encountering berth availability problems. Reports indicate that a minimal crew remained on board, with tracking data showing the movement of one of the ship’s smaller boats between the vessel and shore.
Prior to the incident, passengers were transported to Lizard Island for activities such as hiking or snorkeling. Ms. Rees’s daughter expressed distress over the situation, stating that her mother fell ill while hiking and was sent down unescorted. She questioned whether adequate care and supervision were provided, emphasizing the hope that the coroner’s inquiry would clarify what steps could have been taken to prevent her mother’s death. A search was initiated on the day Ms. Rees was reported missing, but her body was found the following day.
Mark Fifield, chief executive of Coral Expeditions, has confirmed that the company is cooperating with police and has expressed condolences to the Rees family.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0exr15p3l5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss