MELBOURNE, Australia — A wave of heartbreak has swept through Australia following the loss of 80-year-old Sydney resident Suzanne Rees, who was accidentally left behind on Lizard Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, during a cruise expedition. What was meant to be a joyful adventure became a devastating tragedy that has left her family and community mourning, and demanding answers.
Suzanne had been traveling aboard the Coral Adventurer, a small expedition ship operated by Coral Expeditions, as part of a voyage circumnavigating Australia. On the second day of the trip, she joined other passengers for a guided hike to a lookout on the island. According to her daughter, Katherine Rees, it was an extremely hot day, and Suzanne began to feel unwell during the climb. She decided to turn back early, and was told to head down the trail alone.
Tragically, the ship later departed the island without realizing she was missing. It wasn’t until several hours later that the crew reported her absence—by then, it was too late.
“We are shocked and saddened that the Coral Adventurer left Lizard Island after an organized excursion without my mum,” Katherine said in a statement. “From what we’ve been told, there was a failure of care and common sense. She was asked to return on her own, and then the ship left—apparently without even doing a passenger count. At some point in that sequence, or shortly after, Mum was gone… alone.”
Authorities later confirmed that Suzanne was found during a search effort near the hiking trail she had started on. Police have described the case as non-suspicious, and it has been referred to the coroner’s court for investigation.
For Suzanne’s family, the loss feels both heartbreaking and preventable. Katherine described her mother as “strong, independent, and full of love for life.” She added, “Mum adored the ocean and had always dreamed of seeing Australia this way. She was healthy, active, and full of joy. It’s devastating to think that her adventure ended like this.”
Coral Expeditions Chief Executive Mark Fifield expressed condolences to the family, saying the company is fully cooperating with investigators. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and are assisting the relevant authorities. Out of respect for the family and ongoing inquiries, we cannot comment further at this stage,” he said.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion across Australia’s tourism and cruise sectors about passenger safety and accountability, especially during remote island excursions. Many have called for stronger safety protocols and mandatory headcounts before vessels depart from off-shore activities.
Friends and loved ones have begun sharing tributes for Suzanne online, remembering her as a kind, thoughtful woman who loved to travel and bring people together. To them, she was not only a mother and grandmother, but also a beacon of warmth, curiosity, and adventure.
Though her journey ended far too soon, Suzanne’s memory lives on—in the hearts of her family, in the stories told by those who knew her, and in the quiet reminder that care, compassion, and vigilance can make all the difference.
Her family hopes that the ongoing inquiry will bring not only clarity, but also change—so that no other traveler experiences the same fate.