Overview
- Coral Expeditions canceled the voyage and plans to return the ship to Cairns after passenger Suzanne Rees, 80, was found dead on Lizard Island.
- AMSA said it issued a notice to the ship’s master preventing the embarkation of new guests and will meet the vessel in Cairns as its investigation continues.
- Queensland Police classified the death as non-suspicious and referred the case to the coroner, with WorkSafe Queensland also conducting inquiries.
- Vessel tracking shows the ship left Lizard Island around 3:40 p.m., raised the alarm at dinner, turned back that night, and returned by about 3:25 a.m. before Rees’s body was found near a trail.
- Rees’s daughter alleges her mother felt ill on the hike, was told to descend unescorted, and that the ship departed without a passenger count; the company expressed condolences and is cooperating with authorities.