The daughter of a woman who was discovered deceased on a tropical island following the departure of a cruise ship without her has expressed her deep sorrow. Suzanne Rees, aged 80, was found dead on Lizard Island where she had disembarked from the Coral Adventurer during a 60-day luxury cruise. The ship departed without Ms. Rees, who was traveling alone, and she was later found dead in a remote area after a search.

Reports indicate that Ms. Rees had gone hiking on the island and suffered severe injuries from a fall on Saturday. An investigation is now in progress to determine why Ms. Rees was left behind and how the vessel departed without her, with allegations that a passenger count was not conducted before the ship left.

Katherine Rees, the daughter of Ms. Rees, has supported the investigation, criticizing the cruise company Coral Expeditions for negligence. From Sydney, Australia, Katherine stated, “We are shocked and saddened that the Coral Adventurer left Lizard Island without my mum after an organized excursion.”

Katherine hopes that a coroner’s inquiry will reveal what actions could have been taken to prevent her mother’s death. Ms. Rees was only reported missing when she did not show up for dinner on the ship. Her body was found the next day by a search helicopter near the hiking trail, indicating a fall from a cliff or slope.

Authorities have confirmed that a coroner will investigate the “non-suspicious death,” with Coral Expeditions cooperating fully with the official investigations. The company expressed condolences to the Rees family and is providing support during this challenging time.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is investigating the circumstances surrounding Ms. Rees not being counted during boarding at Lizard Island, with a workplace safety watchdog also looking into the incident.