Australia, 80 Year Old Woman Dies After Being Left Behind By Cruise Ship. 25th October 2025

[TootsieFootsie]

Daughter’s devastating statement as cruise passenger who died on island identified

The passenger’s family is ‘shocked and saddened’ that the cruise left without her.

7news.com.au

A woman who died after being left behind on a Queensland Island by a cruise ship company has been identified as a much-loved mother and grandmother.

Cruise passenger Suzanne Rees identified as elderly woman who died after being left alone on Lizard Island

Suzanne Rees, 80, had only set sail on a 60-day Coral Adventurer cruise of a lifetime around Australia the day before she was left behind on Lizard Island off Cooktown on Saturday.

Her daughter, Katherine Rees, said her family were “shocked and saddened” that the cruise had left the island without her mother.

“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.”

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Daughter of abandoned Australian woman: Cruise ship had 'failure of care'

The daughter of an 80-year-old woman left behind by a cruise ship on an Australian island said her mother died due to a lack of "care and common sense."

www.yahoo.com

UPI (United Press International)

Daughter of abandoned Australian woman: Cruise ship had 'failure of care'

Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The daughter of an 80-year-old woman left behind by a cruise ship on an Australian island said Thursday that her mother died due to a lack of "care and common sense."

 

[Catride]

Absolutely horrible

 

[Bigditch]

RIP Suzanne, you deserved better. ♡

 

[al66pine]

Seems the cause of death itself was not suspicious.

Absolutely tragic that this 80 y-o passenger was left behind on the island and died as a result of cruise staff's simple administrative error - apparently a failure to reconcile head count debarking and returning to vessel.

So.... a few days into a 60 day, $50,000 cruise, the cruise operator cancelled it.

_____________________________
"CEO of Coral Expeditions, the cruise operator, Mark Fifield, told BBC the remainder of the trip was cancelled due to the "tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues.” He added that the company was issuing full refunds and coordinating flights for all passengers."

"Rees was reported missing Saturday night after crew members aboard the Coral Adventurer confirmed she had not returned to the ship. A land and sea search was launched, and her body was discovered on the island on Sunday.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Company, Queensland police described her death as “sudden and non-suspicious.”"

Cruise canceled after 80-year-old passenger found dead on island

Officials say her death was “sudden and non-suspicious.”

www.ksdk.com

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I can't believe that anyone would just leave an 80 year old woman who said she felt unwell and continue on their
hike to the top.

Surely someone in that group could have stayed with her.
I'm sure there are many people in this world who would have given up the hike to help an unwell 80 year old lady.

It seems not in this case and I totally get where her daughter is coming from.
Her mother may still be alive if anyone had shown any concern for her.

Yes it seems that the death was accidental.
Reports say she fell, but that was after she told one or more tour guides that she felt unwell and they just left her

 

[Herat]

I think it was more than just a simple error.

I can't believe that anyone would just leave an 80 year old woman who said she felt unwell and continue on their
hike to the top.

Surely someone in that group could have stayed with her.
I'm sure there are many people in this world who would have given up the hike to help an unwell 80 year old lady.

It seems not in this case and I totally get where her daughter is coming from.
Her mother may still be alive if anyone had shown any concern for her.

Yes it seems that the death was accidental.
Reports say she fell, but that was after she told one or more tour guides that she felt unwell and they just left her

I am rather shocked that not one person in the hiking group would have stayed with a fellow passenger who had fallen and was feeling unwell, and that upon their descent down the hiking path, would not have looked for her or checked to see if she had returned to the boat.

Certainly, the returned hikers should have immediately contacted the activities director or such person to determine if the lady had returned safely.

I do understand the daughter's distress, but at this point, I wonder if the cruise manager realized she had not returned.

 

[Herat]

Seems the cause of death itself was not suspicious.

Absolutely tragic that this 80 y-o passenger was left behind on the island and died as a result of cruise staff's simple administrative error - apparently a failure to reconcile head count debarking and returning to vessel.

So.... a few days into a 60 day, $50,000 cruise, the cruise operator cancelled it.

_____________________________
"CEO of Coral Expeditions, the cruise operator, Mark Fifield, told BBC the remainder of the trip was cancelled due to the "tragic passing of Suzanne Rees and previous mechanical issues.” He added that the company was issuing full refunds and coordinating flights for all passengers."

"Rees was reported missing Saturday night after crew members aboard the Coral Adventurer confirmed she had not returned to the ship. A land and sea search was launched, and her body was discovered on the island on Sunday.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Company, Queensland police described her death as “sudden and non-suspicious.”"

Cruise canceled after 80-year-old passenger found dead on island

Officials say her death was “sudden and non-suspicious.”

www.ksdk.com

I do think it is entirely possible that the unfortunate woman died a completely natural death that was no one's fault.

However, I do think there is lack of monitoring of her in an apparently compromised state and there should have been someone who could stay with her or help her back down to the shore landing site, if she improved.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I've updated my post because it was most likely them just not doing a head count.
An error on their part and if they had done a count they may have found her in time.

It's more a moral thing for me that nobody seemed to care when she said she felt unwell.

I'm just a few years away from being this womans age.

I will keep in mind if I ever do a cruise or "guided" walk that you can't count on your fellow human beings to help you, even when you tell them you feel unwell.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

She fell after the group left her. After she had asked for help because she felt unwell.

Yes it was accidental.

But if someone had stayed with her she may very well not have fallen.

Ie she most likely would not have fallen if someone was there helping her on the way down.

 

[sunspun]

Was she traveling alone?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Passengers on ill-fated cruise ship flown home after tragic Lizard Island death of 80-year-old

The Coral Adventurer will return to Cairns, as investigations into Suzanne Rees’ death continue

www.theguardian.com

Passengers on ill-fated cruise ship flown home after tragic Lizard Island death of 80-year-old

 

[Kemug]

It is just shocking that people on this cruise cared so little about this lady. Well, that's my opinion.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I know it's easy to say because I wasn't there but if I had been in that group I would have missed the rest of the climb to stay with her and make sure she was ok.

I know there have to be many other people who would do the same.

 

[scandinavian girl]

I know it's easy to say because I wasn't there but if I had been in that group I would have missed the rest of the climb to stay with her and make sure she was ok.

I know there have to be many other people who would do the same.

I am one of them too. I worked in care facilities with elderly people with dementia and I always look out for them by old habit whereever I am, now I am one of them, officially becoming a senior today.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

To be honest, I am wondering whether this passenger should have been on this climb in the first place. The route is described as 4km, steep and difficult in places, the day was described as "sweltering" or "very hot" and the passenger was 80 years old. Her attempting the climb in those circumstances was possibly unwise and has resulted in more than 100 other passengers having their very expensive (and possibly trip of a lifetime) cruise cancelled.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

She was described as fit and well and a regular bushwalker.

People of any age can be affected by very hot weather.

I hardly think that the sympathy should lie more with the others on the cruise.

They have all had their money refunded.

Rest in Peace dear Suzanne.

 

[Herat]

There is a couple in my neighborhood who are 79 and 78 and are avid international travelers and hikers. They are very fit and active. Some long-distance major route hikes. They would be extremely insulted if they were told they could not join a hiking group like this on a voyage.

The conditions do sound harsh, for anyone, especially the heat, humidity and steepness. I would venture that there would have been younger people in not such great shape on that hike, too. It sounds as if there was someone from the crew who was a group leader on the hike, and I would have thought they should have asked someone to stay with her.

Here is part of the daughter's statement ( Bolding and capitalization by me)

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."

So evidently she was not found on or near enough the trail back down for the group to find her. The group leader should have been concerned when she was not found back at the start of the trail and should have accounted for her with the ship before the entire group left or at least before the ship was allowed to pull anchor.

If you knew someone wasn't well, wouldn't you at least assure you knew where they were before the group returned to the ship?

 

[MelmothTheLost]

She was described as fit and well and a regular bushwalker.

People of any age can be affected by very hot weather.

She may well have been fit and well and a regular bushwalker, but a steep and difficult walk uphill could impose additional strain on an old body. I expect she was well accustomed to walking in high temperatures but sooner or later something gives out.

This seems to have been a much more adventurous cruise than the vast majority of them, but there are risks involved in all adventure travel. Excursions are never compulsory and it's up to the individual to be aware of their own limitations. When my partner and I went on a small group trip to Sri Lanka, I was confident that climbing Sigirya was within my capabilities but that climbing Adam's Peak was not, and acted accordingly.

 

[tara83]

She may well have been fit and well and a regular bushwalker, but a steep and difficult walk uphill could impose additional strain on an old body. I expect she was well accustomed to walking in high temperatures but sooner or later something gives out.

This seems to have been a much more adventurous cruise than the vast majority of them, but there are risks involved in all adventure travel. Excursions are never compulsory and it's up to the individual to be aware of their own limitations. When my partner and I went on a small group trip to Sri Lanka, I was confident that climbing Sigirya was within my capabilities but that climbing Adam's Peak was not, and acted accordingly.

Sometimes it's hard for older people to admit they can't do what they used to.