Featured Image Credit: Family Handout
Topics: Cruise ship, Australia, World News
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The grief-stricken daughter of a woman whose body was found on a remote island after reportedly being 'left behind' by a cruise liner has spoken out.
Suzanne Rees, a retired mom from New South Wales, was meant to be on the adventure of a lifetime. However, on the first stop of the 60-day Australian cruise, which costs tens of thousands of dollars to join, the 80-year-old was allegedly left behind by the Coral Adventurer.
Rees' family say they believe the retiree had been on an organized hiking and snorkelling excursion around Lizard Island, which included taking on the highest summit off the Far North Queensland coast on Saturday (October 25).
When she failed to board the ship, the vessel allegedly departed without her. Rescue helicopter workers then found her body the next day (October 26), with her death being described as 'sudden and non-suspicious' by Queensland Police Service.
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Now, her daughter, Katherine Rees, has broken her silence on the incident, slamming the cruise operator for a 'failure of care and common sense'.
Speaking to The Australian, Katherine said: "We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and Mom fell ill on the hill climb.
“She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count.
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"At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, Mom died, alone."
Katherine added that she was 'shocked and saddened' that the cruise liner departed without her mom on board, who she said was 'active and healthy'.
“I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved mom’s life,” she said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it is also looking into the death, with plans to meet the crew when it docks in Darwin later this week.
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It also confirmed it received a report of a missing woman from the ship's captain at around 9pm, according to the BBC, with a search party being sent out a few hours later, before her body was discovered on Sunday.
Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield said in a statement that the company is 'deeply sorry' for the incident and is liaising with the authorities over the investigation.
“Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland." he said.
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“On Saturday, October 25, the crew notified authorities that a woman was missing, and a search and rescue operation was launched on land and sea.
"Following the operation, Coral Expeditions was notified by Queensland Police that the woman had been found deceased on Lizard Island."
He continued: “While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman’s family.
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“The Coral team have been in contact with the woman’s family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
“We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation.”
LADbible Group has contacted Coral Expeditions for further comment.